NEW DELHI: Tata Group has renamed AirAsia India as AIX Connect, ahead of the low-cost carrier’s (LCC’s) merger with Air India Express. The salt-to-satellite conglomerate is now the 100% owner of erstwhile AirAsia India as it recently bought out Malaysian AirAsia Aviation Group’s remaining 16. 3% in this JV that had started flying in 2014.
Tatas are consolidating their four airlines — full-service Vistara into Air India and LCC AirAsia India into AI Express. While the LCC merger has to be completed within a year, the full serviceones have to be integrated by March 2024 after getting regulatory approvals.
“Till the mergers happen, all four airlines have to run separately. What has happened now is that AirAsia India has been renamed AIX Connect, which will be merged into AI Express. They are both separate companies,”said people in the know.
Last week, AI MD & CEO Campbell Wilson had named AI old-hand and AI Express CEO Aloke Singh as the head of the low-cost airlines from January 1, 2023. Tata Group is going to place a mega order (150-200 Boeing 737 Max jets) for the LCC soon, along with aircraft for full-service AI, which will be a mix of both narrowand wide-bodies. AI Express has a fleet of Boeing 737s. Vistara too has some ex-Jet Airways Boeing 737s, which are likely to be given to AI Express.
While Vistarais run by seasoned aviation professionals, AirAsia India has begun seeing changes at the top. Announcing Aloke Singh as the joint chief of AI Express and erstwhile AirAsia India, Wilson had said in a communication to employees: “A single CEO will provide the clarity and singular accountability necessary to navigate that process. ”
Tatas are consolidating their four airlines — full-service Vistara into Air India and LCC AirAsia India into AI Express. While the LCC merger has to be completed within a year, the full serviceones have to be integrated by March 2024 after getting regulatory approvals.
“Till the mergers happen, all four airlines have to run separately. What has happened now is that AirAsia India has been renamed AIX Connect, which will be merged into AI Express. They are both separate companies,”said people in the know.
Last week, AI MD & CEO Campbell Wilson had named AI old-hand and AI Express CEO Aloke Singh as the head of the low-cost airlines from January 1, 2023. Tata Group is going to place a mega order (150-200 Boeing 737 Max jets) for the LCC soon, along with aircraft for full-service AI, which will be a mix of both narrowand wide-bodies. AI Express has a fleet of Boeing 737s. Vistara too has some ex-Jet Airways Boeing 737s, which are likely to be given to AI Express.
While Vistarais run by seasoned aviation professionals, AirAsia India has begun seeing changes at the top. Announcing Aloke Singh as the joint chief of AI Express and erstwhile AirAsia India, Wilson had said in a communication to employees: “A single CEO will provide the clarity and singular accountability necessary to navigate that process. ”
