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Air India Express’s Winter Schedule 2026 took effect on 25 October 2026, and it is the airline’s biggest winter network so far: roughly 585 daily flights, 220 routes and more than 40 new city pairs, rolled out in phases. If you live in Indore, Surat, Bhopal, Lucknow, Visakhapatnam or Mangaluru, the headline is simple: you may now be able to fly abroad without first connecting through Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Below is the full list of the 36 routes the airline has named so far, what the changes mean for fares and convenience, and a practical checklist for booking one of these new flights without paying more than you need to. All figures come from the airline’s announcement of 5 October 2026 (press release text) and independent coverage by Network Thoughts and Aviation Week, checked on 26 October 2026.
Air India Express Winter Schedule 2026 at a glance
| Metric | Summer 2026 | Winter 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly flights | About 3,150 | Nearly 4,100 |
| Daily departures | Not stated | About 585 (≈435 domestic, up to 150 international) |
| International routes | 83 | More than 100 |
| One-stop connections per week | About 1,330 | Nearly 1,600 |
| Network | Not stated | 65 stations, 220 routes |
| Fleet | Not stated | More than 105 aircraft |
Two caveats are worth knowing. First, the airline says “more than 40” new routes, but its own highlights list only 36 (21 international and 15 domestic), so a few routes are still to be confirmed. Second, the rollout is phased from 25 October, so not every route below starts on the same day. Network Thoughts also points out that the named new routes add only about 176 weekly flights out of roughly 950 extra, so most of the growth comes from more frequencies on routes the airline already flies.
New international routes
Frequencies are flights per week in each direction, as announced.
| Route | Weekly frequency |
|---|---|
| Chennai – Singapore | 14x |
| Bengaluru – Kathmandu | 7x |
| Dubai – Goa (Dabolim) | 7x |
| Bangkok – Indore | 4x |
| Bangkok – Kochi | 4x |
| Chandigarh – Sharjah | 4x |
| Delhi – Riyadh | 4x |
| Lucknow – Ras Al Khaimah | 4x |
| Phuket – Hyderabad | 4x |
| Abu Dhabi – Goa (Mopa) | 3x |
| Amritsar – Abu Dhabi | 3x |
| Bhopal – Sharjah | 3x |
| Kochi – Kuwait | 3x |
| Lucknow – Riyadh | 3x |
| Mangaluru – Kuwait | 3x |
| Mumbai – Kuwait | 3x |
| Riyadh – Thiruvananthapuram | 3x |
| Sharjah – Surat | 3x |
| Bahrain – Thiruvananthapuram | 2x |
| Bangkok – Visakhapatnam | 2x |
| Mangaluru – Ras Al Khaimah | 2x |
What stands out
- The Gulf dominates. Fifteen of the 21 new international routes go to the UAE (Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Kuwait or Bahrain. That reflects the airline’s core market: workers and families travelling between Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the Gulf.
- Thailand gets four new links. Indore, Kochi and Visakhapatnam get Bangkok flights and Hyderabad gets Phuket. If you are planning a beach break, read our guide to Thailand’s 30-day visa-free rules for Indians before you book.
- Chennai–Singapore is the busiest new route at twice daily, and Bengaluru–Kathmandu gets a daily flight.
- Smaller cities go international. Surat–Sharjah, Bhopal–Sharjah, Indore–Bangkok and Lucknow–Ras Al Khaimah save travellers from these cities a domestic hop and a long layover.
New domestic routes
| Route | Weekly frequency |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru – Coimbatore | 14x |
| Ahmedabad – Delhi | 7x |
| Bengaluru – Goa (Mopa) | 7x |
| Bengaluru – Jodhpur | 7x |
| Bengaluru – Madurai | 7x |
| Delhi – Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) | 7x |
| Delhi – Udaipur | 7x |
| Hyderabad – Pune | 7x |
| Mumbai – Nagpur | 7x |
| Delhi – Jaipur | 5x |
| Bhubaneswar – Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) | 4x |
| Indore – Navi Mumbai | 4x |
| Bhopal – Navi Mumbai | 3x |
| Hyderabad – Mangaluru | 3x |
| Kolkata – Pune | 2x |
What stands out
- Port Blair gets easier to reach. Daily Delhi flights and four weekly from Bhubaneswar should help anyone planning the Andamans this winter. For ideas beyond the obvious islands, see our piece on India’s lesser-known islands.
- Bengaluru is the big domestic winner, with new links to Coimbatore (twice daily), Goa’s Mopa airport, Jodhpur and Madurai.
- Navi Mumbai is growing, with new flights from Indore and Bhopal.
- Rajasthan from Delhi: daily Udaipur and five weekly Jaipur flights, useful for short winter trips.
What this means for travellers
More seats on a route usually means more choice of timings and, when a second airline already flies it, more pressure on fares. That is not a guarantee of cheaper tickets: launch periods, the Christmas–New Year peak and Gulf school holidays can all push prices up. The practical benefit is more certain: fewer forced connections, shorter total journey times and a better chance of finding a seat on peak dates.
If you live in one of the smaller cities that just gained an international link, compare the new direct fare with the old option of a domestic hop plus an international flight. Even when the direct fare is a little higher, you save on the separate domestic ticket, the risk of a missed connection and a long day in transit.
How to book a new Air India Express route without overpaying
1. Confirm the start date for your route
Because the schedule is phased, search your exact dates on the Air India Express website before planning anything else. If a route doesn’t show up yet for your dates, it may simply not have started.
2. Compare across airlines and dates
Use a comparison tool to see the new route next to rival airlines and nearby dates. For example, you can check Chennai to Singapore flights on Skyscanner or Bengaluru to Kathmandu flights. Our cheap air tickets page lets you search any route.
3. Search one-way as well as return
Low-cost carriers price each direction separately, so two one-way tickets (sometimes on different airlines) can beat a return. We explain why in why you should never search round-trip on budget carriers.
4. Pick the right fare type for your luggage
Air India Express sells cabin-baggage-only fares (branded Xpress Lite) alongside fares that include checked baggage. A cabin-only fare is only a saving if you genuinely travel light: adding a checked bag later, or paying at the airport, can cost more than the difference. Check the current allowance and fees on the airline’s site at booking time, as these change. A small luggage scale such as the GoTrippin by Destinio digital luggage scale helps you avoid surprises at the counter, especially on Gulf routes where people often carry heavier bags.
5. Sort out your documents early
- Nepal (Kathmandu): Indians don’t need a visa, but for air travel the Embassy of India in Kathmandu accepts only a valid Indian passport or an original photo voter ID card from the Election Commission. Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences are not accepted, and neither is a downloaded voter ID printout.
- Singapore: ordinary Indian passport holders need a visa, applied for through an authorised visa agent no earlier than 30 days before arrival. As of 26 October 2026 the Consulate-General of Singapore in Mumbai lists a ₹2,100 visa fee (from 1 January 2026) plus a ₹1,300 agent charge, with processing in 3 to 5 working days.
- Thailand: see our Thailand visa-free guide for the current stay limit and conditions.
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain: each has its own visa rules for Indian passport holders. Check the destination’s official visa portal or embassy before you pay for a ticket.
6. Add travel insurance for international trips
A new route, a phased start and peak-season demand all raise the chance of schedule changes. A travel insurance policy that covers trip delays and cancellations, bought at the time of booking, gives you some protection if plans shift.
Who benefits most?
- Families and workers travelling between tier-2 Indian cities and the Gulf.
- Holidaymakers from Indore, Kochi, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad heading to Thailand.
- Anyone planning an Andaman trip from north or east India.
- South Indian travellers going to Singapore or Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Air India Express winter schedule 2026 start?
It took effect on 25 October 2026 and is being rolled out in phases, so individual routes may start on different dates. Check your route on the airline’s website.
How many new routes has Air India Express added?
The airline says more than 40, but its published highlights name 36: 21 international and 15 domestic. Both figures come from the same 5 October 2026 announcement.
Will fares on the new routes be cheaper?
Not necessarily. Extra capacity can help, but fares depend on demand, season and competition. Compare one-way and return options across airlines and dates before booking, and weigh baggage costs.
Bottom line
Air India Express’s Winter Schedule 2026 is mostly good news for travellers outside the big metros, with direct flights from cities such as Surat, Bhopal, Indore and Lucknow to the Gulf and Thailand, plus easier access to Port Blair. Confirm that your route has started, compare fares across airlines, choose a fare that matches your luggage and get your documents in order early. That way the new network saves you time, and hopefully money too.
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