The airline, in a statement to ET, said it is witnessing a remarkable increase in both domestic and international travel, with popular destinations like Goa, Jaipur, and Dubai seeing the most demand.
As the long weekend approaches, travelers from major metro cities as well as tier 2 and 3 towns are increasingly opting for quick getaways. Air India Express has observed a strong demand for its Xpress Lite zero-baggage fares, reflecting a growing trend towards light and efficient travel among domestic passengers.
According to an Air India Express spokesperson, “Booking trends for the period from August 15 to 19 show a substantial spike in travel, both domestically and to regional international destinations such as Dubai and Singapore. Bookings for August 15 alone have surged by double digits compared to last year.”
The spokesperson also highlighted that the most popular domestic destinations during this period are Goa, Jaipur, Bagdogra, Srinagar, Kochi, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.
The airline has witnessed a trend that travelers from tier 2 and 3 cities, in addition to major metropolitan areas like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, are increasingly opting for weekend getaways. Goa remains a top choice for many, while those from Kolkata are favoring Kochi. High-performing routes for the airline include Kolkata–Kochi, Bengaluru–Jaipur, Hyderabad–Varanasi, Bengaluru–Bagdogra, Lucknow–Dubai, Tiruchirappalli–Singapore, and Delhi–Ayodhya.In addition to the surge in bookings, a “significant number of domestic passengers” are opting for Air India Express’s Xpress Lite zero-baggage fares, the company said.
The airline’s Xpress Holidays platform, which offers comprehensive land packages including hotels, ground transportation, and activities, is also seeing increased interest. The platform provides a convenient option for travelers looking to simplify their holiday planning.
“Our Xpress Holidays platform is gaining traction among travelers looking for hassle-free vacation planning. We anticipate that these trends will continue to evolve as more bookings come in over the next week,” the spokesperson concluded.
