Air India vs IndiGo vs Air India Express: Which Airline Is Better for Your Flight?
Booking a flight in India sounds simple until you’re stuck choosing and comparing Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express (the newly merged, which now includes the former AirAsia India). The prices look similar, the timings overlap, and every airline claims to be “better.” But anyone who flies even a little knows that the actual experience can be very different.
Some airlines are great at being on time but offer very basic services. Others offer better food and comfort but don’t always justify the higher price. And budget carriers can look cheap at first, until baggage and seat charges kick in. That’s why the real question isn’t just which airline is cheaper, but which one is actually better for your kind of trip.
In this guide, we compare Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express based on punctuality, comfort, baggage rules, service quality, and overall value. By the end, you’ll have a clear answer to which airline you should book and why.
Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express: Quick Comparison
There’s no single “best” airline. IndiGo dominates the market with nearly 60% share and flies to most cities. Air India brings decades of legacy service and the only real international network. Air India Express offers the lowest fares if you’re traveling light. AirAsia India looks cheap upfront, but can become expensive after add-ons. The right choice depends entirely on your route, budget, and what actually matters to you.
| Feature | IndiGo | Air India | Air India Express (Inc. AirAsia) |
| Type | Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) | Full-Service Carrier (FSC) | Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) |
| Punctuality | Excellent (Top 10 in APAC) | Improving (Modernizing) | Moderate |
| Check-in Baggage | 15 kg (Standard) | 20 kg – 25 kg (Standard) | 15 kg (Standard) |
| Meals | Paid / Pre-booked | Complimentary (Hot Meals) | Paid / Pre-booked |
| Legroom | Average (Tight) | Best in Class | Compact / Narrow |
| Network | Largest Domestic Network | Strong International/Metros | Focus on Leisure/Regional |
IndiGo Airline Review – Strengths, Weaknesses, and Best Use Cases
IndiGo is the undisputed leader of Indian skies for one reason: consistency. When you book a 6E flight, you know exactly what you’re going to get.
Punctuality
IndiGo’s “On-Time Performance” (OTP) is its biggest selling point. In 2025-2026, it will remain one of the most punctual airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. If you have a tight connection or a business meeting you cannot miss, IndiGo is the safest bet.
Comfort and Seating
The seats are functional but thin. For a 1-2 hour flight, they are perfectly fine. However, on longer 3+ hour domestic routes, the lack of seat recline and narrow legroom can become noticeable.
Food & Baggage
IndiGo does not offer free meals. Everything is paid. IndiGo adheres strictly to the 15 kg check-in and 7 kg cabin rule. They have become very efficient at weighing bags at the gate, so don’t expect much leniency if you’re over the limit.
Customer Service
The service is professional and efficient. Don’t expect the warmth of a full-service carrier; the crew is trained for fast turnarounds.
Who should choose IndiGo: Business travelers, solo flyers, and anyone for whom being on time is the #1 priority.
Air India Vs Indigo Review – Is Indigo Better Than Air India Now?
Since the Tata Group takeover and the merger with Vistara, Air India has been undergoing a massive transformation. The “New Air India” is a different beast compared to the state-owned version of five years ago.
Full-Service Experience
The biggest perk is that your ticket is all-inclusive. You don’t have to pay extra for a seat (usually) or a meal. In 2026, Air India introduced revamped domestic menus that are significantly better than the standard low-cost carrier “sandwich in a box.”
Seat Comfort
Air India uses a mix of aircraft, but generally, their seats offer better cushioning and more legroom than those of IndiGo. With the ongoing retrofit program, many of their narrow-body planes now feature Premium Economy, offering a middle ground for travelers who want extra space.
International vs Domestic Performance
While their domestic service has become quite reliable, Air India truly shines if you are connecting to an international flight. Their baggage allowance for domestic legs of international trips is much more generous.
Recent Changes
The integration of Vistara’s “Premium” DNA has helped Air India improve its soft skills. The staff is generally more attentive, and the “Maharaja” experience is slowly being modernized with new lounges and better tech.
Air India Express vs IndiGo – Which Is Better for Budget Travel?
With the merger of AirAsia India into Air India Express, the “New” Air India Express has become a formidable competitor to IndiGo.
Short Routes
Air India Express focuses heavily on leisure destinations (like Goa or Jaipur) and regional hubs. On short routes, the pricing is often $5–10 lower than IndiGo’s.
Baggage Rules
Like most low-cost carriers, the base fare usually includes 15 kg. However, they often run “Lite” fares for those traveling with only cabin baggage, which can save you a significant amount of money if you’re a light packer.
Onboard Service
The vibe is more “fun” and “young” compared to IndiGo. They offer “Gourmair” hot meals for pre-booking, which many travelers find superior to IndiGo’s cold snacks.
Pricing Traps
Watch out for the add-ons. While the base fare is low, Air India Express is aggressive with seat selection fees and convenience fees. Always check the final “checkout” price before concluding which is cheaper.
AirAsia India vs IndiGo – Price vs Comfort Comparison
Note: As of 2026, AirAsia India operates fully under the Air India Express brand, but the “AirAsia style” service remains in many of its legacy aircraft.
Ticket Pricing
Historically, AirAsia (now AI Express) was the price leader. Today, they remain highly competitive, often undercutting IndiGo on “red-eye” (late-night) or early morning flights.
Seat Comfort
If you end up on one of the legacy AirAsia aircraft, the seats are notoriously narrow. If you are tall, the “Hot Seats” (extra legroom) are a mandatory upgrade.
Reliability
While IndiGo has more “back-up” planes due to its massive fleet, Air India Express has improved its reliability by sharing resources with the main Air India fleet. However, in case of a cancellation, IndiGo usually has a flight leaving an hour later—Air India Express might not.
So, in these aspects if you have to compare AirAsia vs Indigo, choose Indigo.
Air India or Indigo Which is Better Overall?
If money is no object, Air India is the better experience. You get a hot meal, more legroom, and a higher baggage allowance (20-25kg vs 15kg).
However, if you are looking for reliability and frequency, IndiGo wins. They fly to more places, more often. If an IndiGo flight is delayed, they have 10 other planes at the airport to swap in. If an Air India flight has a technical problem at a smaller airport, you might be stuck for a while. If the question, is Indigo better than Air India arises in your mind, you can opt for Indigo and rely on it as a safe choice.
Which Airline Is Better for Different Travelers?
Best Airline for Budget Travelers
Air India Express. Their “Xpress Lite” fares are often the cheapest in the market for those who don’t need checked baggage.
Best Airline for Comfort and Food
Air India provides the most complete experience. Nothing beats a hot meal and a proper tea/coffee service at 30,000 feet, especially when it’s included in your ticket price.
Best Airline for On-Time Flights
IndiGo. Their operations are a well-oiled machine. They prioritize punctuality over almost everything else.
Best Airline for Short Domestic Routes
IndiGo. With their massive fleet of ATRs and A320s, they serve almost every corner of India with high-frequency “bus-like” service.
Which Indian Airline Offers Better Value?
When we talk about “AirAsia vs IndiGo” (now Air India Express vs IndiGo) or comparing them with Air India, price is usually the first thing travelers look at. But “cheap” doesn’t always mean “value.”
Average Ticket Prices Across Popular Routes (2026 Estimates)
Prices vary by season, but here is a breakdown of the average base fares for a one-way ticket booked 15 days in advance: Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express
| Route | IndiGo | Air India | Air India Express |
| Delhi-Mumbai | ₹5,800 | ₹6,400 | ₹5,500 |
| Bangalore-Delhi | ₹6,500 | ₹7,200 | ₹6,100 |
| Chennai-Kolkata | ₹5,200 | ₹6,000 | ₹4,900 |
(Note: Fares during peak seasons like Diwali, New Year, or summer holidays can be 30–60% higher than these averages.)
Hidden Costs to Consider (Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express)
When comparing Air India vs IndiGo vs Air India Express, don’t just look at the first price you see.
- Seat Selection: IndiGo and Air India Express charge for almost every seat. Air India usually offers a few free seats at the back of the bus.
- Meal Costs: Expect to pay ₹500–₹800 for a meal combo on low-cost carriers. Air India includes this in your fare.
- Cancellation Fees: LCCs often charge higher flat fees, whereas Air India’s higher-tier “Flex” fares offer free changes.
When Each Airline is Cheapest (Air India vs Indigo vs Air India Express)
- Air India Express: Best for advance bookings (60+ days) and travelers with zero check-in bags (Lite fares).
- IndiGo: Best for last-minute availability. Their massive fleet means they often have the most seats left 24 hours before a flight.
- Air India: Best for heavy packers. If you have 25kg of luggage, the excess fees on IndiGo will make Air India the cheaper total option.
Budget Winner Verdict: Air India Express wins on base price, but Air India wins on value if you need food and luggage.
Final Verdict – Which Airline Should You Choose?
Indian air transportation offers real choices, not just different airline names. In the comparison of Air India vs IndiGo vs Air India Express, IndiGo built market dominance through reliability and coverage. Air India brings legacy service and international reach. AirAsia India carved out space for ultra-budget travel.
The “best” airline changes with every trip. The flight choice should be based on your priorities.
- “IndiGo wins on punctuality.” Choose them for business trips or when you have a strict schedule.
- “Air India feels better for longer flights.” Choose them for 3+ hour journeys, family travel with heavy bags, or when you want a “full” meal.
- “Air India Express looks cheap until add-ons kick in.” Choose them for leisure trips to places like Goa or Kochi, but be sure to pre-book your baggage and meals to save money.
Smart travelers stop looking for the perfect airline and start matching the airline to the trip. Check punctuality records for tight connections. Calculate total costs, including bags and meals. Consider comfort on longer flights. Value service when traveling with elderly family members.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your priority. For on-time performance and flight frequency, IndiGo is better. For comfort, food, and baggage, Air India is superior.
For a quick 1-hour hop between metros, IndiGo is often more convenient. For a longer flight (e.g., Delhi to Kerala), the extra legroom and food on Air India make a big difference.
Often, yes. Air India Express tends to offer lower base fares, especially on leisure routes. However, once you add baggage and seat selection, the price gap usually narrows.
Air India Express offers a more “leisure-friendly” experience with hot meals and better entertainment options (via streaming to your device), but IndiGo has a much better track record for being on time.
Yes, Air India includes meals on flights over 90 minutes. IndiGo and AirAsia sell meals separately.
Yes, but understand you’re paying extra for everything beyond a seat and 7kg cabin bag. Add up total costs before comparing.
AirAsia has lower base fares, but IndiGo often costs less after adding necessary extras like baggage. Calculate the total cost before booking.
Last Updated on: February 3, 2026
Neelam is a professional writer with over 2 years of experience creating engaging travel and lifestyle content. She creates engaging, research-backed travel blogs and destination guides that help readers plan smarter trips, uncover hidden gems, and explore both popular and offbeat destinations with confidence. She blends research with real-world relevance to create content that informs and inspires. She is passionate about the craft of writing and is always in search of the next story worth sharing.
