Air India Express Adds New Flights from Mangalore

Air India Express Adds New Flights from Mangalore

Currently, AIX connects Mangalore with international flights to eight destinations in the Middle East and four destinations in the country.

By Arfath AhmedJanuary 19, 20253 

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

MANGALURU- India’s leading budget carrier, Air India Express (AIX), will launch new non-stop flights from Mangalore (IXE) to Delhi (DEL) and additional flights to Mumbai (BOM). The flights are scheduled to commence in February 2025, subject to final scheduling.

These new flights will enhance Air India Express’s domestic connectivity from Mangalore further. The airline will now serve 13 destinations from Mangalore.

Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

Air India Express Mangalore Flights

Starting 1st February 2025, Air India Express will fly daily to Delhi from Mangalore. The airline will operate B737 MAX-8 aircraft.

Delhi:

Flight IX 2768 will depart from Delhi at 06:40 am IST. The flight is scheduled to reach Mangalore at 09:35 am IST. The flight time will be 2 hours and 55 minutes.

Both Delhi to Mangalore and Mangalore to Delhi flights will depart and arrive at the same time. Two different aircraft will operate these flights.

The flight IX 1552 from Mangalore, will also depart at 06:40 am IST. The flight will reach Delhi at 09:35 am IST. The flying time will be 2 hours and 55 minutes.

Mumbai:

Starting 15th February 2025, Air India will shift its present morning flights to Air India Express. Currently, both Air India and Air India Express fly daily to Mangalore from Mumbai.

Flight IX 1233 will depart from Mumbai at 05:45 am IST. The flights will arrive in Mangalore at 07:15 am IST. The flight time will be 1 hour and 55 minutes.

The return flight IX 1236, will leave Mangalore at 07:55 am IST. The flight will arrive in Mumbai at 09:50 am IST. The flight time will be 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Air India Express has two variants of B737 MAX-8. Both of the variants consist of an all-economy configuration. One of the variants has 176 seats and another variant has 178 seats on-board.Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh Tekriwal

Strong Presence in Mangalore

Mangalore, a key coastal city in Karnataka, is known for its vibrant economy, educational institutions, and proximity to a global diaspora.

Currently, AIX connects Mangalore with international flights to eight destinations in the Middle East. Air India Express flies to cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah etc… catering to the region’s expatriate community.

Domestically, Air India Express flies to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kannur. The airline recently introduced flights to Pune. The new Delhi and additional Mumbai flights mark a pivotal addition to Air India Express’s operations from the city.

This enhanced domestic connectivity will make it easier for passengers to access international flights via Delhi and Mumbai, two of India’s largest aviation hubs.

Photo: Aviation A2Z, Credits to Harsh Tekriwal and Others

The competition for AI group

Air India Group has been making a lot of changes in order to maintain its competitiveness in the Indian Aviation market. IndiGo Airlines (6E) is undoubtedly the biggest competitor for Air India Group.

IndiGo operates 3 daily flights to Mangalore from Mumbai. The shift of the Mumbai-Mangalore flights to Air India Express from the main line reflects the low yields in the sector. To Delhi, IndiGo already operates a daily flight.

However, Air India Express remains a key airline for Mangalore in terms of international flights. IndiGo flies to only two destinations in the Gulf. The airline flies to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Air India Express recently opened bookings for its much-anticipated flights to Singapore. However, the airline had to close bookings before the flights even commenced, reportedly due to challenges with significantly low bookings.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Fast-track immigration system launched at Chennai airport

Fast-track immigration system launched at Chennai airport 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.01.2025

Chennai : City airport has launched the long-awaited fast-track immigration system that will allow flyers registered under the Trusted Traveller Programme to bypass long queues at immigration clearance. Union home minister Amit Shah inaugurated the programme virtually on Thursday from Ahmedabad, at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chennai simultaneously. 

At Chennai airport, eight exclusive gates have been set up — four for departing flyers and four for those arriving from different destinations. Passengers can scan their passports and boarding passes at the gates to get past the immigration clearance. “The facility is functional from the time of inauguration. All registered passengers can make use of the facility,” a senior FRRO official said. 

“Passengers who want to register afresh can visit Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore airports after completing the online application procedure to record their biometrics. Immigration officers will guide them,” the official added. Registered passengers will be subjected to two-stage verification under the fast track immigration programme. At the first e-gate, a passenger’s passport and boarding pass are scanned. Once verified, the person can proceed to the next e-gate, where his/her face is scanned. If verified, the passenger will then be authenticated as a trusted traveller, and the immigration/emigration process will be completed. Immigration officials said that more than 1,000 people registered at Chennai’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office under the Trusted Traveller Programme. The system was first launched at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport in New Delhi in June 2024, and Chennai was among the seven other airports selected to implement the programme. The fast-track immigration has been planned for 21 airports across the country in a phased manner

Singapore-bound flight turns back due to technical issues

Singapore-bound flight turns back due to technical issues

Murali N. Krishnaswamy

CHENNAI 11.01.2025

A scheduled Air India flight, AI346, on the Chennai-Singapore sector, returned to base early on Friday, after the crew experienced technical difficulties.

The Airbus A321 had left Chennai at 12.33 a.m. and had climbed to 30,000 ft, when the crew squawked the emergency transponder code 7600 around 2 a.m., according to an aviation source. This indicates that an aircraft has experienced radio communication issues or has lost radio contact.

After the crew followed standard operating procedures with Chennai air traffic control, the aircraft was put in a holding pattern at an altitude of about 10,000 ft in the airspace over the Bay of Bengal to burn fuel. The jet then made a safe landing at 4.12 a.m. and was parked in a bay at the secondary runway. An airline spokesperson said alternative arrangements were promptly made and the nearly 160 passengers were flown to Singapore on a relief aircraft, an Airbus A320N, at 7.20 a.m. on Friday.

Flight from Kuwait leaves behind half of luggage

Flight from Kuwait leaves behind half of luggage

Jan 9, 2025, 03.55 AM IST 

Chennai: Many Air India Express passengers from Kuwait were in for a shock when they landed in the city on Monday as the airline had left behind their luggage to maintain air haul. weight.

The flight with around 176 passengers landed in Chennai around 6.30am. Most of them could not find their check-in luggage on the conveyor belt.

Only when they confronted the airline's ground staff were they told that some of the luggage had been held back to maintain the flight's air haul weight. The staff assured the passengers that the remaining luggage would reach Chennai on Wednesday and Thursday and be delivered at their doorsteps.

"Due to payload restrictions, some checked-in baggage could not be uplifted on one of the flights operating on the Kuwait-Chennai sector on Monday. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests. Arrangements have been made to deliver the affected baggage to the residences of the guests at the earliest, at the airline's expense,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.

A retired airline official, though, said it was a clear mistake on the part of the "An aircraft cannot always take the full load of passengers, and in aviation, it is called regulated take-off weight (RTOW). It is the duty of the airport manager to plan well ahead to keep the weight within the RTOW limits .Temperature, time of operation and distance to cover (sector) play a vital role in deciding RTOW the number of passengers and luggage an aircraft can handle. In this case, the airport manager should have restricted the passengers to 120 140,” he said was not allowed to separate passengers from their check-in luggage. "Also, making delivery arrangements will put an additional burden on airlines," he said.

400 flights delayed, 45 cancelled, 19 diverted at IGI

400 flights delayed, 45 cancelled, 19 diverted at IGI 

05.01.2025

New Delhi : Dense fog, which led to zero visibility for over eight hours, severely impacted flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of disruptions. The fog persisted for 12 hours, causing visibility at the airport to drop to 0 meters, with the runway visibility range (RVR) fluctuating between 100 and 250 meters. Senior weather scientist RK Jenamani said Delhi recorded the longest duration of zero visibility this season, with a nine-hour stretch from 11.30 pm on Friday, January 3, 2024, to 8.30 am on Saturday, January 4, 2025. “The fog conditions were extremely dense, with all RVRs across the four runways ranging from 100-250 meters, impacting flight operations during this period,” Jenamani said. 

Despite the severe weather, officials reported that flight operations were gradually restored, starting from 1.30 am, with only minor delays. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates similar foggy conditions in northwest India on Sunday, which could continue to affect flight schedules. According to FlightRadar24, over 400 flights were delayed, with an average delay of 34 minutes. Airport officials said that 19 flights, of which two were international, were diverted while some flights were cancelled. However, around 45 flights were canceled either due to bad weather at the destination or other operational reasons from Delhi, airport officials added. “Due to adverse weather conditions in Delhi, 19 flight diversions were reported between 12.15 am and 1.30 am on Tuesday. Thirteen domestic, four international, and two non-scheduled flights were diverted to Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Mumbai,” said airport officials.

Holiday calling: Daily direct flights to Bangkok now

Holiday calling: Daily direct flights to Bangkok now

Arvind.Chauhan@timesofindia.com 05.01.2025

Lucknow : To cater to the increasing rush for affordable holidays on beaches, Lucknow will now have direct daily flights to Bangkok. Air India Express on Saturday inaugurated direct flight to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok). Since Dec 4, 2022, Thai AirAsia has been operating four-days-a-week direct flights to Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok). Now, Air India Express will operate for the remaining three days to bolster tourism. According to conservative estimates, over 1.3 lakh passengers have traveled between the two cities in the last 436 days. “Thailand's visa-on-arrival facility and reasonable living costs have made Bangkok an attractive destination for Indian tourists. The average occupancy of Thailand-bound flights from Lucknow is 80-85%, hence, the airlines are now keen to operate more flights for southeastern Asian tourist destinations from CCSIA,” an official source said. 

Air India Express will operate between CCSIA and Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while AirAsia will continue to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays via Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok). Both the airports are 40 km apart from each other and the average airfare is approximately Rs 10,000 per passenger. Direct flight for Bhubaneswar The Air India Express on Saturday launched a direct flight for Bhubaneswar, which is just 50 km away from Puri. The flight will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. “The two new flights of Air India Express will augment Lucknow Airport's emphasis on providing seamless connectivity to domestic as well as international passengers. Travelers can look forward to more options, reduced travel time, and the promise of a hassle-free journey,” the CCSIA spokesperson said.

Fog delay: 200 flyers stuck on Delhi Pune plane for over 7 hours

Fog delay: 200 flyers stuck on Delhi Pune plane for over 7 hours

Joy.Sengupta@timesofindia.com 05.01.2025

Pune : Severe fog and low visibility disrupted flight operations across major airports, including Delhi and Pune, leading to a harrowing experience for around 200 passengers on a Delhi-Pune Air India Express flight (IX-1176). The flyers, including senior citizens, were kept on the plane for seven-and-a-half hours before being deboarded and asked to repeat the security check process at Delhi airport. Scheduled to depart at 9.40pm Friday and arrive at 11.50pm, the flight finally took off at 7.30am Saturday, landing in Pune at 10am — more than 10 hours behind schedule. 

An official response from the airline is awaited. Pune resident Ambadas Gawande, who was traveling with his family, described the ordeal. “First, there was a delay of half an hour. All passengers boarded the aircraft by 10pm. When the aircraft did not fly even after an hour, flyers asked the crew members what was the problem. One of them said visibility was a major problem because of fog. Some flyers lost their cool after patiently sitting in the aircraft for more than two hours,” he said. As frustration among the flyers grew, the cabin crew assured that the flight would take off soon.

 “But it never happened. Many passengers, mostly senior citizens, wanted to go back to the terminal building to sit and rest comfortably. But that was not to be. There were frequent arguments between the flyers and the crew members. We all understood that the aircraft wouldn't take off because of the fog. But there was no logic behind keeping us seated in the plane for more than seven hours,” Gawande said. Around 5.30am Saturday, passengers were abruptly told to deboard the aircraft due to a technical issue. 

“After coming out of the plane, we were huddled into buses. The vehicles moved around the area for a while and dropped us at the terminal building. Then we were told to go through the security check again. The whole thing took around two hours. Surprisingly, we boarded the same aircraft again,” he said. The delays coincided with disruptions in flight operations caused by fog. 

Over 32 flights to and from Pune were delayed between midnight and noon Saturday, with almost all flights to and from Delhi delayed by three to five hours. A passenger flying from Pune to Delhi described the chaotic situation at Pune airport. “With almost all flights delayed, it was total chaos in the security check area. The new terminal building isn't equipped to handle so much crowd. People had to stand for hours for their flights. There was no proper communication from the airlines, which worsened the situation,” he said. Hashim Ansari, who was at Pune airport at 6am, shared a video on X, writing: “No proper facilities to sit and rest. People are seated on carpets.”

''Unforgettable Legacy'': IndiGo Bids Farewell To Vistara As It Takes Its Last Flight

''Unforgettable Legacy'': IndiGo Bids Farewell To Vistara As It Takes Its Last Flight

Several passengers and aviation enthusiasts also reminisced about Vistara's premium service and significant contributions to Indian aviation.

India NewsEdited by Ritu SinghUpdated: November 12, 2024 11:00 am IST

The official X handle of Vistara Airlines also reacted to the tweet.

IndiGo on Monday bid a heartfelt farewell to rival Vistara as the airline took its final flight before merging with Air India. In a symbolic gesture, IndiGo acknowledged Vistara as an "unforgettable legacy" on social media, emphasising respect despite their past rivalry. As a result of this merger, Air India is set to become a formidable competitor to IndiGo, the budget carrier currently dominating the Indian market.

''As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, @airvistara. Here's #ToLimitlessPossibilities ahead,'' IndiGo wrote on X, along with a video of its final flight.

The official X handle of Vistara Airlines reacted to the tweet and responded by saying, ''Onward and upward! Here's to the future and all the exciting possibilities it holds!''

Several passengers and aviation enthusiasts also reminisced about Vistara's premium service and significant contributions to Indian aviation. Many shared their favourite memories with the airline and recalled how it felt travelling on its fleet.

Vistara was launched in 2015 as a joint venture between Tata Sons (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%). This strategic partnership was made possible by the Indian government's decision, under the UPA administration, to allow foreign airlines to acquire up to 49% stake in domestic airlines.

The merger of Vistara with Air India, part of Tata Group's strategy to streamline its aviation assets, marks the end of Vistara's journey, established in partnership with Singapore Airlines. Going forward, Vistara's routes and fleet will be incorporated into the Air India brand, with Singapore Airlines holding a 25.1% stake in the merged entity, India's largest international carrier.​

Vistara was merged with Air India on Monday night, and from Tuesday onwards, the Vistara flight code will change from 'UK' to 'AI2XXX'. The in-flight experience on Vistara's fleet will remain unchanged, but customers will now have access to Air India's expanded network and services.

Post a commentWith this merger, the number of full-service carriers has dropped to one from five in the past 17 years. Over the past years, airlines such as Kingfisher, Air Sahara, rebranded as JetLite and Jet Airways have been grounded due to financial trouble and various other reasons.

Air India Express reduces Kozhikode operations

 Air India Express reduces Kozhikode operations 

V Krishnanand 20 March 2024, 08:18 AM IST  

Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/money/air-india-express-cuts-down-services-from-kozhikode-1.9421449

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