DGCA कंपनी ने एयर इंडिया एक्सप्रेस मिलाया हाथ, दिखाई हरी झंडी

DGCA gives green signal to the company to join hands with Air India Express

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday granted the requisite regulatory approval for the merger of AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia, into Air India Express. From October 1, 2024, all aircraft of AIXC have been seamlessly transferred to AIX's Air Operator Certificate (AOC), ensuring that the airline operations of the combined entity continue without any disruption to ensure a safe and smooth passenger experience. The successful merger of AIX Connect and Air India Express sets a new benchmark for future airline consolidations, highlighting the importance of strategic regulatory oversight in the aviation industry.

Air India Express Connect and Air India Express have demonstrated that this merger will create a more resilient and innovative airline, capable of competing effectively in the global marketplace," said Director General of Civil Aviation Vikram Dev Dutt. "Our rigorous review ensures that this merger is in the public interest by promoting safe air operations while enhancing the overall travel experience for consumers. The insights gained from this experience will prove valuable for the upcoming merger of Air India and Vistara, which is currently in progress," he added. DGCA pointed out that the merger of AIX Connect and Air India Express was a complex endeavor that involved the integration of aircraft, pilots, cabin crew, engineers, operational control systems, aircraft maintenance certification processes and a wide range of contracts, vendors and backend systems. Considering the safety challenges that arise during the merger of two ongoing airline systems, DGCA's role has been critical in ensuring that all regulatory and safety requirements have been carefully complied with and effectively implemented. Typically, such a transition would require grounding of the fleet during the transfer of aircraft from one AOC to another. To mitigate these challenges, DGCA proactively worked with all stakeholders and initiated continuous wide-ranging discussions aimed at creating a process that would ensure regulatory compliance.

To achieve the dual objectives of maintaining the highest safety standards, as well as ensuring a seamless transition without grounding aircraft, DGCA constituted a dedicated project team that coordinated the actions required to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner. The approval process for this merger included reviewing organisational structures and approvals, ensuring seamless transfer of aircraft and personnel, and ensuring safety of ongoing operations. The merger required the alignment of facilities, personnel, processes and fleet assets spread across multiple locations. DGCA also evaluated the personnel requirements of the merged airline, ensuring that the workforce was appropriately trained and distributed to meet the demands of the expanded fleet, which is critical to maintaining safety and operational efficiency. DGCA also reviewed aircraft lease agreements and insurance documentation to ensure compliance with domestic and international aviation regulations. To ensure that the process remains on track, DGCA created a live tracker for real-time monitoring of progress at a granular level. This live tracker has been shared by DGCA with the airline's senior management as a convenient intervention tool to continuously review and assess progress, including timelines. DGCA will closely monitor post-merger operations to ensure continued compliance with all regulatory conditions, protect consumer interests and ensure the continued safety of air operations in India.