The CEO of Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) says the upcoming merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India (Bangalore International) will provide enormous growth opportunities over the remainder of the decade and that the two airlines complement each other. Speaking at a conference in Delhi this week, Aloke Singh said the merger should be finalised by the end of March 2024 and his job as chief executive was to unlock the synergies the new entity offers.

Air India Express parent Tata Sons acquired AirAsia Aviation Group's remaining 16.33% shareholding in AirAsia India last year, making the low-cost carrier a 100% owned Tata subsidiary. Shortly after the acquisition, AirAsia India was rebranded AIX Connect as the first step in a previously announced merger with Air India Express. The process is part of a wider reorganisation of Tata Sons' airline subsidiaries that also includes the merger of Air India (AI, Delhi International) and Vistara (UK, Delhi International).

According to ch-aviation PRO airlines data, Air India Express operates a fleet of twenty-six B737-800s to 34 destinations in eight countries, while AirAsia India/AIX Connect operates twenty five A320-200s and five A320-200Ns to 20 destinations within India.