Air India Express, which is now helmed mainly by the management of Air India Express and AirAsia India, the two airlines in the process of a complete merger, is a hotbed of action right now. The airline has many innovative ideas, some of which were implemented back in the day but had to be rolled back. But they are now back.

Air India Express launches Lite Fares.

Air India Express launched “Xpress Lite Fares” today, available only when you directly shop for a fare on AirIndiaExpress.com or the airline app. The airline’s new fare is offered without a checked bag allowance. Domestic carriers offer a 15-kilogramme baggage allowance at the minimum (Air India provides more).

In exchange for letting go of the checked bag allowance, Air India Express promises these guests a fare lower than the regular fare offered by the airline. Not just that, the Lite fares will allow the guests to carry 10 kilos of hand baggage (usually 7 kilogrammes). The additional three kilos must be added during the booking process or via “manage booking” later.

These guests will also get access to the Xpress Check-In counter, which will enable these flyers to avoid queues at counters and baggage belts. If you change your mind after booking the ticket, and want to add a bag (up to 15 kilos), you get a special price of INR 1,000 only.

I checked the price on a short sector, and it turns out that the fare difference was INR 210 between the Lite and the next cheapest fare.

On a longer segment, such as Delhi – Bagdogra, the fare difference was INR 350.

Speaking about the launch of the new Xpress Lite fares, Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Express, said

The launch of Xpress Lite fares heralds what we hope will be a new way to fly in India, extending a proposition already popular amongst flyers across the world, including international airlines flying to and from India. It underscores our dedication to continue to push the envelope, introducing best-in-class offerings for Indian flyers, offering frictionless journeys, and reaffirming our brand ethos of ‘Fly As You Are’. Xpress Lite Fares across our domestic and international network have the potential to redefine convenience in air travel while delivering exceptional value.

LFAL Analysis

Only time will tell if this will be a short-lived experiment or if it will last for times to come. When AirAsia India, one of the original airlines behind Air India Express, launched a decade ago, they had a similar fare sans the baggage allowance. At the time, the airline was offering only an add-on baggage allowance of INR 199, and even now, it is just INR 1,000. Even SpiceJet had Hand Baggage Only fares in 2014.

The DGCA did not appreciate no-bag fares a decade ago, but they wisened up in 2021 and allowed for the handbag-only “lower fares”.

Air India Express has beaten market leader IndiGo to this innovation in this whole spin and perhaps even forced their hand. So, if you see these fares on IndiGo, you should think of AIX.

Bottomline

Air India Express has launched “handbag only” fares, called Xpress Lite fares. These fares will be cheaper than the cheapest baggage-included fares, allowing for more hand baggage allowance. Also, the airline will include priority check-in for guests with this fare. And if you change your mind, you can add a checked-in bag for just INR 1,000. The fare is only bookable on Air India Express’s website and app.

What do you think of Air India Express’s new Xpress Lite fares, and do you foresee using it?

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