Air India Express Launches Twelve New Routes in Summer Expansion

Air India Express, India's leading international low-cost carrier, is rolling out twelve new services as part of its summer schedule, strengthening its presence across metropolitan areas, state capitals, and tourist hotspots nationwide. Starting May 1, 2026, passengers can book these flights through the airline's website at airindiaexpress.com, its mobile application, travel agents, and various online booking platforms.

The expansion significantly enhances connectivity between key business and leisure destinations. Fresh services will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad directly, while both cities now connect to Chandigarh and Dehradun. Mumbai gains a new direct connection to Patna, opening up the eastern Bihar market for the carrier.

Bagdogra, positioned as the gateway to the Eastern Himalayas and a premier leisure destination, receives enhanced connectivity with new routes from both Pune and Chennai. The Pune-Bagdogra service marks an exclusive offering from Air India Express, operating five days weekly.

The airline has also revived three previously suspended routes responding to seasonal travel patterns: Bagdogra-Chennai, Delhi-Kochi, and Hyderabad-Ranchi.

Service Details

Flights commence operations on May 1, 2026, with the following schedule (all times local):

Ahmedabad connections: Departures to Chandigarh at 11:05 (arriving 13:00) run six days weekly, while the return service leaves at 13:30 (arriving 15:25). Daily flights to Dehradun depart at 06:25 (arriving 08:15), with returns at 08:45 (arriving 10:35). Mumbai services operate daily, departing at 15:55 (arriving 17:15) with return flights at 22:05 (arriving 23:35).

Mumbai hub services: Chandigarh flights depart at 16:25 (arriving 18:45) with returns at 19:15 (arriving 21:35), running daily. Dehradun services leave at 10:25 (arriving 12:45) with return flights at 13:15 (arriving 15:35), also daily. The new Patna route operates daily with departures at 12:00 (arriving 14:35) and returns at 15:05 (arriving 17:25).

Eastern leisure routes: Bagdogra-Pune flights operate five days weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday), departing at 09:35 (arriving 12:25) with return flights at 13:15 (arriving 16:05). Chennai-Bagdogra services run six days weekly (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday), departing at 09:45 (arriving 12:45) with returns at 15:45 (arriving 18:20).

Additional services: Hyderabad-Ranchi connections operate daily, departing at 12:40 (arriving 14:30) with return flights at 21:30 (arriving 23:40). The Kochi-Delhi route runs daily with departures at 05:30 (arriving 08:40) and returns at 21:30 (arriving 01:00 the following day).

Network Expansion Impact

Following the May 1 launch, Air India Express will operate significantly expanded frequencies across its major hubs. Ahmedabad will see 40 weekly flights, Bagdogra 108 weekly, Chandigarh 27 weekly, Delhi 393 weekly, Dehradun 28 weekly, Kochi 62 weekly, Kolkata 86 weekly, Mumbai 174 weekly, Patna 42 weekly, and Pune 96 weekly departures and arrivals combined.