Jet Airways vs Air India Express

Global Network and Operations

Jet Airways operates a comprehensive network primarily within India and across international destinations in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Before its temporary suspension and subsequent restructuring, its fleet included a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 737-800, Airbus A320 family, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, supporting both short-haul and long-haul flights. The airline has been recognized for its focus on quality service and operational excellence, with hubs mainly at Mumbai and Delhi.

Innovation and Milestones

Jet Airways has pioneered several initiatives in Indian aviation:
• First Indian airline to introduce a frequent flyer program, Jet Privilege, enhancing customer loyalty.
• Among the earliest Indian carriers to operate Boeing 787 Dreamliners, modernizing its long-haul fleet.
• Implemented industry-leading in-flight entertainment systems across multiple aircraft.
• Adopted sustainable practices including reducing carbon emissions through fleet modernization and efficient route planning.

Customer Experience and Recognition

Jet Airways offers a variety of cabin classes, including Economy, Premiere (business class), and First Class on select long-haul routes. The airline has been noted for attentive cabin service, comfortable seating, and quality in-flight dining. Jet Airways has received multiple awards over the years acknowledging its safety standards and customer service excellence within the Indian and international aviation markets.

Future Outlook

With plans to resume operations post-restructuring, Jet Airways is aiming to re-establish itself as a leading premium carrier in India. Its future strategy includes fleet expansion with newer fuel-efficient aircraft, enhanced digital customer experience, and ambitions to deepen international connectivity particularly in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Overview

Air India Express is an Indian low-cost airline. It began operating on 29 April 2005 as a subsidiary of Air India. Tata Sons completed its acquisition of Air India and Air India Express on 27 January 2022, and the airline is now owned by Air India Limited. It was rebranded in October 2023 and moved its headquarters to Gurugram, Haryana. The merger with AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, was declared complete on 1 October 2024. It is not a member of an airline alliance.

Network and hubs

As of January 2026, the airline served 45 domestic and 17 international destinations, with hubs at Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. International routes are mainly to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It has codeshare and interline agreements with Air India, Scoot and Singapore Airlines (Wikipedia).

Fleet

As of June 2026, Wikipedia lists 106 aircraft in service:

• Boeing 737 MAX 8: 53
• Boeing 737-800: 26, older aircraft due to be phased out
• Airbus A320neo: 12
• Airbus A320-200: 11, older aircraft due to be phased out
• Airbus A321neo: 4

167 further 737 MAX aircraft are on order. A cabin retrofit across the MAX 8 and A320-family aircraft was expected to finish by mid-2026. Fleet numbers change often, so treat them as a snapshot.

On board

Most flights are single-class economy. Business class (Xpress Biz) is sold on routes that carry it. The airline does not provide meals as standard, but it offers heated meals on demand. We could not confirm seat pitch, entertainment or Wi-Fi details from the sources reviewed.

Good to know

• Fares: the airline sells Xpress Lite, Value, Flex and Biz fares. Xpress Lite is a cabin-bag-only fare with 7 kg of cabin baggage, and checked bags can be pre-booked. See the official Xpress Lite page.
• Baggage: third-party summaries (WNTR) put the cabin limit at one 7 kg bag plus a personal item under 3 kg. Check the airline's baggage page before travelling, as allowances vary by route and fare.
• Loyalty: the frequent-flyer programme is Tata NeuPass.
• Fees: change and cancellation fees depend on the fare. Check them at booking.