India’s flag carrier, Air India, is converting 10 Airbus aircraft to an all-economy class configuration as it prepares to start its domestic low-fare operations under its Air India Express brand by mid-September, two airline executives said. Air India, run by National Aviation Co. of India Ltd, currently operates Air India Express as its international low-fare carrier. Its entry into the domestic low-fare aviation market could further lower ticket prices. Rival full-service carriers Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and Jet Airways (India) Ltd, India’s largest private airlines, have already shifted at least half their fleets to all-economy flights as they fight competition from discount airlines such as SpiceJet Ltd, InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd-run IndiGo and Go Airlines (India) Pvt. Ltd run GoAir.
"A decision has been taken to convert old aircraft to all-economy class and they will fly under Air India Express," an Air India official said. The 10 aircraft to be converted date back to between 1989 and 1994 and have 148 seats each. Over the next two months, these will be redesigned to have 168 seats, he added. The conversions will take place at the Mumbai and New Delhi airports, two key bases for the carrier. To start with, seven aircraft will be converted and tickets can be purchased from the Air India Express website.
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