Air India Express drop two regional destinations

[LUNN]

AIX have pulled out of Dhaka and Bangkok, not sure when these went. Their regional routes are now limited to Colombo, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore apart from the Gulf network which continues as is.

The carrier is interested in launching services to Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the future.

[AA 1818]

Originally Posted by LUNN

AIX have pulled out of Dhaka and Bangkok, not sure when these went. Their regional routes are now limited to Colombo, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore apart from the Gulf network which continues as is.

Dhaka and Bangkok make sense to remove AIX from, because on the lower cost end, it will have to compete with Asian LCCs (which are fiercely competitive) and on the higher end, it will compete with Air India proper. I see that in the past few years, AIX has been used to launch new markets (that AI proper) did not serve. Perhaps that's partially the strategy - to open up a market with AIX, and if it can afford it, then move onto Air India proper.

Originally Posted by LUNN

The carrier is interested in launching services to Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the future.

Pakistan and Afghanistan might prove to be lucrative, given the relative lethargic pace of other carriers adding Kabul, and Pakistani cities. What would be interesting, is if Pakistan and India would be open to the idea of Open Skies agreements. It would open Pakistan up to Indian carriers, but would likely open up a tough Pakistani market to Indian cities, which might work.

Could DEL or BOM be good Afghanistan-U.S./Canada transition point? Does India require Afghans to possess visas for transit through Indian airports? Maybe this could be a very lucrative market for them...

[LUNN]

Dhaka is not served by AI anymore either and all of AIX current and former destinations are infact ex-AI, only ISB will be an AIX original if ever launched by them.

BTW its strange that all Indian carriers AI, AIX, IC, IT have exited from Dhaka only Jet is left. Spice are interested in flying there and are seeking permission lets see if they get it, or maybe Jet will leave too LOL!

There has been talk of starting Delhi-Islamabad service interestingly by the Indian side, revised bilaterals have given PK Chennai and AI Islamabad permissions.

Open Skies are still far too many issues including visa that need sorting out, PIA too have reduced frequency and capacity on Karachi-India flights so all is not that good.

Wouldnt the Afghans be better off with Turkish or even flydubai transferring onto Emirates rather than go to India and then back track and that too on AI.