Air India Express is adding more flights and routes to its network for the Winter Schedule 2026. Starting October 25, the airline plans to operate around 585 flights a day, including approximately 435 domestic and up to 150 international departures.
The new schedule will add more than 40 domestic and international routes and increase Air India Express’ weekly operations to nearly 4,100 flights. The airline currently operates about 3,150 weekly flights under its Summer 2026 schedule. With this expansion, travellers will also have more one-stop options between Indian cities and destinations abroad.
Air India Express Winter Schedule 2026
The airline’s winter network will bring several changes to its flight operations:
- Around 585 daily flights
- Approximately 435 domestic departures per day
- Up to 150 international departures per day
- 40+ new domestic and international routes
- Nearly 4,100 weekly flights
- Nearly 1,600 weekly one-stop connections
- More than 105 aircraft in the fleet
The schedule will roll out in phases from October 25 rather than launching every new service on the same day.
More International Connections From Indian Cities
Air India Express is putting a significant part of the winter expansion into international connectivity. The airline is adding more routes linking Indian cities with destinations across the Gulf, Southeast Asia and neighboring markets. The expanded network includes services such as:
- Chennai–Singapore
- Bengaluru–Kathmandu
- Kochi–Bangkok
- Kochi–Kuwait
- Delhi–Riyadh
- Amritsar–Abu Dhabi
- Chandigarh–Sharjah
- Bhopal–Sharjah
- Mangaluru–Kuwait
- Lucknow–Riyadh
- Dubai–Goa
- Bahrain–Thiruvananthapuram
The mix is notable because the expansion isn’t limited to India’s biggest metros. Cities such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Mangaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram also feature in the international network. That gives travelers more direct options from regional airports instead of routing every international journey through a major metro.
Domestic Network Gets More Routes Too
The Air India Express Winter Schedule 2026 also adds domestic services across several major city pairs. The Air India Express expanded network includes routes such as:
- Ahmedabad–Delhi
- Bengaluru–Goa
- Bengaluru–Jodhpur
- Bengaluru–Madurai
- Bengaluru–Coimbatore
- Delhi–Udaipur
- Hyderabad–Pune
- Mumbai–Nagpur
- Kolkata–Pune
These routes connect major business centers with leisure destinations and regional cities. The additional domestic services also fit into Air India Express’ wider strategy of building connections between larger airports and markets that have historically had fewer direct flight options.
Weekly Air India Express Flights Will Increase
The daily flight figure only tells part of the story. Air India Express plans to increase its weekly operations from around 3,150 flights in Summer 2026 to nearly 4,100 flights during Winter 2026. That represents roughly 950 additional weekly flights across the network.
The airline is also increasing its weekly one-stop connections from around 1,330 to nearly 1,600. These connections matter for travelers whose origin and destination cities don’t have a direct Air India Express service.
For example, a passenger starting in a smaller Indian city could gain more routing choices through an Air India Express hub rather than first traveling separately to a major airport.
When Does the Air India Express Winter Schedule Begin?
The Air India Express Winter Schedule 2026 begins October 25, 2026. The airline will introduce the new routes and additional frequencies in phases throughout the winter schedule period.
Air India Express has also published a flight-schedule tool where travelers can search individual routes and check available services.
Because the new network is being phased in, travelers should check the schedule for their specific city pair rather than assume every announced route operates daily.
What the Expanded Network Means for Travelers
The winter expansion gives Air India Express a larger presence across both domestic and international markets. For domestic travelers, the additional city pairs create more direct travel options. Internationally, the new services strengthen connections between India and major destinations in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
The increase in one-stop connections is another important part of the expansion. Travelers who don’t have a direct flight between their cities will have more options within the Air India Express network. For passengers planning trips during the busy winter period, checking the exact operating days and flight times remains important because new services are rolling out in phases.
With the Winter 2026 network expanding from October 25, travelers should check their preferred route for the latest operating days, schedules, and fares. Travelers planning upcoming trips should also check Tripbeam.com for affordable flight deals before booking, especially when a new route gives you a more convenient departure or connection.
