Exclusive: Air India Express Reveals West Asia Plans, UAE Expansion & Massive Fleet Growth

Air India Express will restore its full West Asia network from the winter schedule as geopolitical disruptions ease, Nipun Aggarwal, Chairman of Air India Express and Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer of Air India, tells NDTV in an exclusive interview. Aggarwal says passenger demand remains strong and that airspace restrictions, rather than demand, continue to be the airline's biggest operational challenge. He also discusses Air India's ambitious expansion strategy, including plans to induct 60-70 aircraft annually over the next seven to eight years, expand its UAE operations, and strengthen connectivity across key international markets.