(a) whether the Government proposes to shift the Headquarters of Air India Express from Ernakulam to Mumbai;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the present status of the proposal;
(d) whether the Government envisages better planning in future to schedule Air India Express flights
and to reduce the fares; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in
this regard?
MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI AJIT SINGH)
(a): No, Madam.
(b) and (c): Do not arise.
(d) and (e): Air India Express is making changes to the Winter schedule to operate more flights on direct, point to
point, basis. Wherever possible the flights are being made daily and non-stop. Flights are being re-timed keeping
in mind the new DGCA CAR. Some of the flights are being made day flights to optimise crew utilisation.
As regards reduction in fares, Air India Express is a low cost international airline. In keeping with the low cost
model, Air India Express follows dynamic pricing system. There are several fare levels which are decided based on
booking position on a particular flight, time to departue date, seasonality etc. On an average, Air India Express
offers fares that are 15-20% lower than market fares of full service carriers.