Aviation

Fly Easy, Pay Less: Air India Express Rolls Out ‘Xpress Lite’ Fares

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Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Tata Group-owned Air India, has unveiled a new offering targeted at budget-conscious travelers: ‘Xpress Lite’ fares.

By choosing to travel without checking in baggage, customers can take advantage of cheaper ticket costs. With this recent announcement, travelers will be able to schedule their flights with more flexibility and at a lower cost.

Through the ‘Xpress Lite’ program, travelers can take advantage of fares that are less expensive than standard ones. Complementing this service is “Xpress Check-In,” a function that allows passengers to skip lines at baggage belts and check-in counters, thereby expediting the boarding procedure. Furthermore, travelers who choose “Xpress Lite” prices will be given a free 3-kilogram cabin luggage allowance.

To ensure optimal convenience and flexibility for travelers, customers can also take advantage of drastically lower pricing if they prefer to pre-book additional check-in luggage allowances of 15 kg or 20 kg.

Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Express, expressed optimism about the launch of ‘Xpress Lite’ fares, envisioning it as a new standard for air travel in India. He highlighted the popularity of similar propositions among flyers globally, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to offering best-in-class services and frictionless journeys for travelers.

Overall, Air India Express’s introduction of ‘Xpress Lite’ fares reflects a strategic move to cater to the diverse needs of travelers while maintaining affordability and quality service.

Aviation

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

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According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

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The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.