Air India weighs merging key departments with Air India Express

The Air India Group is considering integrating key corporate functions across Air India and Air India Express. HR, finance, IT and engineering are on the table. Sources told The Hindu BusinessLine that each identified department could serve both airlines through a common team.
The two carriers would keep their separate brands and business models. The proposal aims to cut duplication and costs. It comes amid combined FY26 losses of Rs 22,238 crore across the group.
Air India posted a standalone net loss of Rs 15,368 crore in FY26. Air India Express recorded a net loss of Rs 6,767 crore on revenue of Rs 19,088 crore. The group earned about Rs 71,870 crore in revenue.
CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has pushed for closer integration. He took charge on August 5. In his first town hall, he said the airlines belong to one Air India Group. He named sustainable profitability as a key goal.
The proposal could improve resource use and unlock economies of scale, sources said. It follows the group’s earlier consolidation. Vistara merged into Air India. AirAsia India merged into Air India Express.
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