Air India Express Launches More Middle East Routes In Winter Schedule

Air India Express plans a significant network expansion in the upcoming northern winter schedule season by adding more than 40 domestic and international routes.

The additional routes, which are due to start in phases from Oct. 25, will give the carrier its largest-ever winter schedule and will represent an increase from its summer 2026 schedule.

The carrier said it will operate up to 585 daily flights this winter, comprising 435 domestic and 150 international. It will have 220 routes connecting 65 points, including more than 100 international routes.

While it cited plans to add about 40 routes, Air India Express highlighted a list of 36 routes. Of these, 21 are international and 15 domestic.

The international routes include 15 from a range of Indian cities to Middle Eastern destinations Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates as well as Bahrain, Kuwait and Riyadh. The Middle East is already Air India Express' largest market, accounting for 93% of its international seat capacity, according to data from CAPA and OAG.

The list also includes five routes to Southeast Asia—three to Bangkok and one each to Phuket, Thailand, and Singapore—and one to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Air India Express' system seat capacity dropped significantly during the northern summer season, mainly due to the fuel cost crisis and the temporary suspension of some Middle East flights. However, weekly seat capacity has recovered somewhat and is now just 4% below 2025 levels. System capacity is still 14% above 2024 levels.

The carrier has a fleet of 104 narrowbodies, comprising 29 Airbus A320s, A321s and A321neos, and 75 Boeing 737-8s and 737-800s. It also has 30 737-10s and 97 737-8s on order.

Air India Express is the third-largest carrier in the Indian market, accounting for 10.5% of system capacity for the week of Oct. 5, behind parent Air India and IndiGo. It has an 11% share of domestic seats and 8.2% of international seats.