KOCHI: The corporate headquarters of Air India Express (AIE) in Kochi is set to be revamped with state–of-the-art infrastructure. Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Air India, Mr. Ashwani Lohani on his visit to Kochi gave administrative sanction to transform the present facility into a more spacious and modern corporate office with the ticketing/reservation centre on the ground floor.
The proposed AIE building would also house the Boardroom of AIE. “This facility upgrade will help AIE to meet the need for additional space requirement of a growing workforce in the airline which is on an expansion mode” said Mr. K Shyam Sundar, CEO, Air India Express.
The CMD directed Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL), the ground-handling arm of Air India, to procure modern equipment and improve the infrastructure to meet the demands of Air India, AIE and customer airlines. Captain A.K. Sharma, CEO, AIATSL was also present during the inspection at the airport.
The CMD also said that 14 brand new Airbus A-320 aircraft would join the Air India fleet for domestic operations. This is in addition to the six new Boeing 737-800 aircraft joining the AIE fleet, which are planned to be deployed mainly on the India - Gulf routes. He also informed the travel agents that Alliance Air will increase its feeder operations by adding new 72-seater ATRs.
Presently, in the southern region, ATR-42 aircraft are being deployed by Air India on the Kochi – Agatti and Kochi–Bangalore sectors. Mr Lohani also gave directions to explore the feasibility of deploying bigger aircraft in the Kochi- Bangalore sector. The travel agents requested him for a third Kochi- Delhi service and change of timings for the Kochi - Chennai service, which he agreed to examine. AIE will make efforts to increase its cargo business from Kochi.
