AIX Connect Merges with Air India Express: A New Era in Indian Aviation

The merger of AIX Connect with Air India Express will be finalized in the first week of October. AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia India, will cease to exist, and all operations will continue under Air India Express. The merger marks a significant consolidation in the Indian civil aviation sector.

The AIX Connect airline, along with its designator code 'I5', will be history by the first week of October, as the no-frills carrier merges with Air India Express.

Speaking to PTI, a senior airline official confirmed that the merger process, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, is on track. The official added that AIX Connect, previously known as AirAsia India, will cease operations after 11 years, with its aircraft being re-registered under Air India Express's Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Presently, Air India Express and AIX Connect operate about 400 flights daily, with plans to expand these operations. The combined fleet consists of 88 aircraft, including 61 Boeing 737 NGs and MAXs, and 27 A320 ceos and neos. After the legal merger, all AIX Connect flights will operate under Air India Express's 'IX' code instead of 'I5'.

A war room has been operational for three months to ensure a smooth transition, involving multiple stakeholders like lessors and airports. This merger is also seen as a template for future integrations, such as Vistara and Air India's merger scheduled for November.

With the Air India Express and AIX Connect merger, there will be a unified rostering system for the crews. The two airlines already share a common website, distribution system, and customer care services. In July 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved AIX Connect's operations under the Air India Express brand. However, certain challenges, particularly those related to the cabin crew, remain.

Post-integration, the combined workforce will include around 6,000 employees, with over 4,000 being cabin crew members. AIX Connect, initially launched in 2014 as a budget carrier co-owned by Tatas and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad, was renamed in December 2022. The merger represents a major consolidation in the burgeoning Indian aviation market.

(With inputs from agencies.)