Air India Express Fleet — Aircraft Types & Hub Structure

Air India Express is the low-cost arm of the Air India group, focused on short-haul international routes (especially Gulf and Southeast Asia) alongside domestic operations.

Quick answer: Air India Express operates approximately 90 aircraft as of May 2026, with a fleet composed of B737 MAX 8, B737-800. The primary hub is Kochi (COK). As a low-cost carrier, the fleet is standardised on narrowbody aircraft (single-aisle) for efficient short and medium-haul operations.

Fleet at a glance

Total fleet size (approx)	90
Carrier type	Low-cost carrier (LCC)
Primary hub	Kochi (COK)
Other hubs	Bangalore (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM)
Founded	2005
Carrier code	IX
Country of registration	India

Aircraft types operated by Air India Express

B737 MAX 8

Modern narrowbody (Boeing 737 MAX series). 180-200 seats economy. 14% more fuel-efficient than the 737NG.

B737-800

Boeing's legacy narrowbody (Next-Generation 737). 162-189 seats. Older airframes than the MAX.

Aircraft type list is current as of May 2026. Fleet composition evolves continuously as airlines retire older aircraft and induct new variants.

Air India Express hub network

Air India Express bases the largest concentration of aircraft and crew at Kochi (COK), with additional operational bases at Bangalore (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM). Flights to/from hub airports operate at higher daily frequencies than non-hub destinations, and connecting flights typically route through these hub cities.

COK (primary) BLRHYDMAADELBOM

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Frequently asked questions

How many aircraft does Air India Express have?

Air India Express operates approximately 90 aircraft as of May 2026. The fleet composition includes B737 MAX 8, B737-800. Fleet counts change continuously as airlines add new aircraft and retire older ones — for the latest exact figure, check Air India Express's investor relations page or DGCA's airline data portal.

What aircraft types does Air India Express operate?

Air India Express operates B737 MAX 8, B737-800. As a low-cost carrier, the fleet is typically standardised on one or two narrowbody families to minimise crew-training and parts costs.

Where is Air India Express's main hub?

Air India Express's primary hub is Kochi (COK). Other major hubs include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai. Hubs are the airports where the airline bases the largest concentration of aircraft, crew, and maintenance operations — flights connect through hubs more frequently than non-hub airports.

Is Air India Express part of any airline alliance?

Air India Express is not currently a member of any of the three major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, oneworld). It operates a network of bilateral codeshare partnerships instead.

Does Air India Express operate wide-body or narrowbody aircraft?

Air India Express operates primarily narrowbody aircraft. Wide-body (twin-aisle) aircraft like the Boeing 777, 787 and Airbus A350 are used for long-haul international routes; narrowbody (single-aisle) aircraft like the A320 family and Boeing 737 are used for domestic and short/medium-haul international flights.

Last updated: 26 May 2026