About Alliance Air — India's Largest UDAN Carrier

Alliance Air was incorporated in 1996 as Airline Allied Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India set up specifically to operate short-haul regional routes. In April 2022, as part of the Tata Sons acquisition of Air India, Alliance Air was demerged into a separate company — Alliance Air Aviation Limited — owned by AI Assets Holding Limited (a Government of India entity).

Today, Alliance Air is the largest UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) operator in India, with the most regional-connectivity routes of any Indian airline. Its all-ATR 72 turboprop fleet is uniquely suited to short runways and lower-demand destinations that jet aircraft cannot serve economically.

AttributeValue
IATA Code9I
ICAO CodeLLR
CallsignALLIED
Founded1996 (demerged from Air India in April 2022)
HeadquartersNew Delhi
OwnershipGovernment of India (via AI Assets Holding Limited)
Primary HubsDelhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Kolkata (CCU)
Secondary BasesBengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Chennai (MAA)
Fleet (May 2026)~18 aircraft (all ATR 72-600 / ATR 72-500)
Destinations50+ (heavy UDAN focus)
Customer Care0124-466 1500
Official Websiteallianceair.in

Alliance Air Routes 2026

Alliance Air operates the densest regional network in India. Many routes are UDAN-subsidised, meaning fares are partly funded by the central government to keep them affordable for residents of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Alliance Air Popular Routes

  • Delhi ↔ Ludhiana, Bathinda, Pathankot, Shimla, Kullu, Jaisalmer, Bilaspur, Pantnagar — North India UDAN circuit
  • Mumbai ↔ Kolhapur, Nashik, Belagavi, Hubli, Jharsuguda
  • Kolkata ↔ Aizawl, Lilabari, Tezpur, Cooch Behar, Jharsuguda, Durgapur, Shillong — North-East connectivity
  • Bengaluru ↔ Salem, Mysore, Hubli, Bidar
  • Hyderabad ↔ Vidyanagar, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Vijayawada
  • Chennai ↔ Madurai, Tuticorin, Tiruchirappalli, Salem
💡 North-East lifeline: For destinations like Lilabari, Tezpur, Cooch Behar, or Aizawl, Alliance Air may be the only direct option from Kolkata. The alternative — connecting via Guwahati on a different carrier — adds 3–5 hours of travel time.

Alliance Air ATR 72 Fleet

Alliance Air's fleet consists exclusively of the ATR 72 turboprop — a 72-seat regional aircraft optimized for short flights (typically under 90 minutes) on routes with low-to-medium demand. The aircraft can land on shorter runways that 737/A320 jets cannot use.

  • ATR 72-600: The newer variant, equipped with the modern Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines and "Armonia" cabin interior
  • ATR 72-500: The older variant, gradually being phased out
  • Configuration: 70–72 seats in a 2-2 layout, all economy
  • Cruise speed: ~510 km/h (slower than jets — Mumbai–Kolhapur takes ~50 min vs ~35 min on a jet)

Alliance Air Baggage Allowance 2026

CategoryAllowanceNotes
Checked baggage (free)15 kgOne or more pieces, total weight basis
Cabin baggage7 kgMax 55 cm × 35 cm × 25 cm — ATR 72 has limited overhead bin space
Personal item (under seat)Under 3 kgLaptop bag / handbag
Excess baggage (counter)₹500/kgPer ATR aircraft weight-and-balance constraints, last-bag-out subject to availability
Excess baggage (online)₹350/kgPre-purchase via allianceair.in
Infant (under 2)10 kg checked + stroller freeStroller gate-checked
⚠️ ATR weight constraint: Because ATR 72 aircraft have a strict maximum take-off weight, in rare cases (overweight flights), Alliance Air may "off-load" some checked baggage and forward it on the next flight at no extra charge. Carry essentials in cabin baggage when flying Alliance Air.

Alliance Air Web Check-in

  • Opens: 48 hours before departure
  • Closes: 60 minutes before scheduled departure
  • How: allianceair.in → Web Check-in → PNR + last name → seat select → boarding pass
  • App: Alliance Air app on iOS + Android (limited functionality vs the website)
  • Counter check-in: Opens 2 hours before, closes 45 minutes before

Alliance Air Fare Range & Booking

Alliance Air UDAN-route fares are capped at the regulator-defined ceiling — typically ₹2,500–₹4,500 one-way for under-1-hour flights and ₹4,500–₹7,000 for 1–2 hour flights. Non-UDAN routes follow market pricing.

Alliance Air sells a single base fare per route — no Saver/Flexi/Plus tiers. Add-ons (extra baggage, preferred seat ₹100–₹300) are available during booking and via Manage Booking.

Alliance Air Cancellation Policy

Standard DGCA-compliant 24-hour free cancellation window for bookings made 7+ days before departure. Outside that:

  • More than 24h before: ₹2,000 cancellation fee
  • 4–24h before: ₹3,000 fee
  • Less than 4h / no-show: Non-refundable except airport taxes

Refund timeline: 7–10 business days for cards, 5–7 for net banking. Alliance Air refunds tend to be slower than the LCC group average — set expectations accordingly.

Why Choose Alliance Air?

  • Only direct option on many Tier-2/3 routes (e.g. Delhi–Bathinda, Kolkata–Aizawl, Mumbai–Kolhapur)
  • UDAN fares are heavily subsidised — often half the cost of routing via a hub on mainline carriers
  • Smaller airports — quicker check-in, shorter walks, less crowded
  • Government-backed reliability — Alliance Air's cancellation rate is one of the lowest in India for UDAN routes

Considerations Before Booking Alliance Air

  • ATR 72 cabins are smaller — limited overhead bin space; bring a soft cabin bag if possible
  • No business class or premium seating — all economy
  • Limited in-flight services on short routes (no meal service on flights under 1 hour)
  • Some UDAN destinations have very basic terminal facilities — check airport amenities in advance
  • Aircraft may be affected by weather delays (turboprops are more sensitive to monsoon conditions than jets)