These additions by Air India Express further enhance India’s aviation connectivity with the Gulf region.
Air India Express, the low-cost carrier and wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, has announced the addition of Nagpur to its network, alongside new international services to Abu Dhabi. The expansion signals the airline’s aggressive growth strategy as it strengthens connectivity across India and the Gulf region.
Starting December 1, the airline will operate twice-daily flights between Nagpur and Bengaluru, marking Nagpur’s entry into the Air India Express network. Bookings for the new services are now open through the airline’s website, mobile app, and major booking channels. The launch comes as part of a broader expansion drive, with five new stations added in the past two months, taking the carrier’s total destinations to 60.
From December 2, Air India Express will further expand its Gulf footprint with new flights to Abu Dhabi. The airline will operate four weekly services between Delhi and Abu Dhabi, and three weekly services between Pune and Abu Dhabi, strengthening air links between India and the UAE.
Nagpur’s inclusion reinforces Air India Express’ growing presence in Maharashtra, where it already operates more than 130 weekly flights from Mumbai and over 90 weekly flights from Pune. The airline is also preparing to commence operations from Navi Mumbai, with 35 weekly flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
The new Nagpur-Bengaluru services complement Air India Express’s recently launched routes from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, consolidating Bengaluru’s position as a key hub in the airline’s expanding network. Air India Express currently operates more than 530 weekly flights from Bengaluru, including new international services to Bangkok, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh.
Delhi remains another major hub, with the airline operating over 400 weekly flights connecting 25 domestic destinations, as well as international services to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Muscat. The addition of Abu Dhabi routes from Delhi and Pune further enhances India’s aviation connectivity with the Gulf through a domestic carrier.