Unlocking India: How New Air Routes Are Transforming Travel Accessibility
Air India Express will launch daily flights to six new Indian cities on 1 September 2026, and Delhi Airport’s domestic network has expanded to 90 destinations with the addition of Daman.
For travelers, this means new direct links to key cultural, industrial, and pilgrimage centres, simplifying multi-stop itineraries.
New Route Matrix
Effective 1 September 2026, Air India Express adds these direct connections:
- Aurangabad to Delhi (two daily flights): Direct gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora UNESCO sites.
- Coimbatore to Mumbai (two daily flights): Serves a major textile and manufacturing hub.
- Jamnagar to Mumbai (two daily flights): An industrial and energy sector centre.
- Jodhpur to Delhi and Mumbai (one daily flight each): Boosts Rajasthan tourism access.
- Madurai to Chennai (one daily flight): Connects to a major southern heritage city.
- Tirupati to Hyderabad (one daily flight): Facilitates access to a major pilgrimage site.
The airline will also increase frequencies from Delhi to Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Patna, and Varanasi, all effective 1 September 2026.
Network Implications
This expansion grows Air India Express’s network to 64 destinations—48 domestic and 16 international. It specifically targets business, industrial, cultural, and pilgrimage travel segments. The move by Delhi Airport to reach 90 domestic destinations signals a broader trend of improving internal connectivity.
Traveler Checklist
- Verify schedules: All new routes and increased frequencies begin on 1 September 2026.
- Booking is open: Tickets are available via the Air India Express website, app, and major booking channels.
- Plan connections: Use new metro hub links (Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai) to access these secondary cities.
- Factor in airport choice: Confirm your terminal at Delhi Airport, given its expanded network.