Business

Air India and AirAsia India will accept each other’s domestic passengers in a flight disruption

Published on April 4, 2022

Air India and AirAsia India (AAIPL) will accept each other’s domestic passengers. If one carrier’s flights are disrupted in the first step toward collaboration between Tata Group airlines. The 2 have signed a two-year “interline considerations on irregular operations” (IROPs) agreement. That is valid until February 9, 2024, to provide “first available alternate flights to minimize passenger inconvenience. So far, the over-seven-year-old AAIPL has no international passenger flights.

After acquiring AI also AI Express late last month, the Tata Group owns four airlines, including Vistara and AAIPL.

“Passengers shall be transport on an ‘as available basis as determine by the airport manager of the accepting airline. The airport manager’s decision to accept an airline would be final in terms of seat availability. According to the IROPs agreement. Therefore, according to the agreement, Air India’s departure should not be impact by the acceptance of stranded Air Asia India passengers.

“The agreement under consideration is a standard agreement between airlines to re-accommodate guests in last-minute disruptions.

We already have agreements with almost all other Indian carriers, “In a statement issued on Saturday, an AirAsia spokesperson said. Passengers wishing to boost the AI business class via the paid “get upfront” scheme will be prioritize over passengers from the 28-strong AAIPL to the AI business class.

Some days, there will be more synergy between AI, AAIPL, and AI Express, according to insiders. Singapore Airlines (SIA), which owns 49% of Vistara, has yet to agree with AI, India’s only other full-service carrier. Tatas have yet to reveal their airline plans, but until SIA joins, they have two options. They could have three airlines: AI, Vistara, and a low-cost carrier formed by the merger of AAIPL and AI Express.

Or there could be two airlines: one extensive AI that combines the two LCCs under its umbrella, also Vistara.

While it remains to be watched what the Tatas decide, increased cooperation between the three airlines is expected, which is good news for passengers.