Battle of Indian Budget Airlines: Which Ones Are Worth It?

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Updated March 2025

Table of Contents

Meet the contenders: a brief overview

IndiGo: It is India’s largest airline by market share and fleet size, operating over 400 aircraft (primarily Airbus A320neo, A321neo, and ATRs). Known for its extensive network, general reliability, and fuel-efficient operations.
SpiceJet: It is a major player with a mixed fleet of around 90 aircraft (Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s). Utilizes its Q400 turboprops extensively for regional connectivity under the government’s UDAN scheme.
Air India Express: It is the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, operating over 100 aircraft (Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s). Primarily, it focuses on short- and medium-haul international routes, especially to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, while also serving domestic routes.
Akasa Air: It is India’s newest airline, operating a modern, all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet (currently over 25 aircraft with large expansion plans). The airline is known for promoting fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and quieter cabins.

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Comparing the airlines: factor by factor

Here’s a detailed look at how these airlines stack up against each other:

Routes & destinations

IndiGo: The airline offers the most extensive domestic network, covering over 75 cities. It also has a significant and expanding international presence with flights to around 80 destinations (e.g., Dubai, Singapore, Doha, Istanbul).
SpiceJet: The airline operates in 48 domestic destinations and several international cities, including key hubs like Jeddah, Dubai, and Bangkok.
Air India Express: The airline covers 39 domestic and 16 international destinations, including the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat) and Southeast Asia (Singapore).
Akasa Air: This airline is rapidly expanding its network, currently operating on 23 domestic routes connecting metros with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It has recently started operations in 5 international cities.

Fleet composition

IndiGo: Primarily Airbus A320neo, A321neo, and ATR aircraft (>400 total). Focuses on modern, fuel-efficient models.
SpiceJet: Mix of Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s (~90 total), Q400s serve regional routes.
Air India Express: Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s (>100 total).
Akasa Air: All-Boeing 737 MAX fleet (>25 aircraft, with plans for 226 over 10 years). Emphasizes fuel efficiency and quieter cabins.

Cabin experience & comfort

Economy class:

IndiGo: Follows a no-frills model. Base fare is for the seat; meals (“6E Eats”), seat selection (standard/extra legroom), and baggage are add-ons.
SpiceJet: Basic fare with add-ons available (seats, snacks, meals). Offers “SpiceMax” upgrade for extra legroom, priority services, and complimentary meals.
Air India Express: Provides essential economy seating. Offers “Biz Upgrade” allowing passengers to bid for or purchase upgrades to spacious business class seats with perks like wider seats and free Gourmair meals on applicable flights.
Akasa Air: Includes 15kg checked baggage standard on domestic flights. Meals (“Café Akasa”) and seat selection are add-ons. Features modern Boeing 737 MAX cabins that are quieter in comparison to other aircraft.

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Premium options/Business class:

IndiGo: Offers “Stretch” and “Stretch+” as business class categories on select domestic trunk routes (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai), including higher baggage allowance (30-40kg checked, 12kg cabin), free meals, priority services, and free seat selection.
Air India Express: Offers “Biz Upgrade” for conversion from economy to actual business class seats (up to 58 inches legroom) with enhanced services on flights equipped with these cabins.
SpiceJet: No dedicated business class cabin, but offers “SpiceMax” fare bundles for an enhanced economy experience.
Akasa Air: No dedicated business class cabin, but offers “Flexi” fares with added benefits.

In-flight services & amenities

In-flight entertainment (IFE):

SpiceJet: Offers “SpiceScreen,” a streaming service accessible via passengers’ own devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) over onboard Wi-Fi.
IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air: Currently do not offer dedicated in-flight entertainment systems.

Dining options:

IndiGo: Buy-on-board/pre-book menu (“6E Eats”) with snacks, light meals, and beverages. Pre-booking is often cheaper.
SpiceJet: Buy-on-board/pre-book menu (“SpiceCafé”) with various meal options catering to various tastes and dietary preferences. Offers complimentary meals for SpiceMax passengers.
Air India Express: Offers “Gourmair,” featuring pre-bookable hot meals on select routes, including various dietary options (Veg, Non-Veg, Vegan, Pescetarian, Eggetarian, Diabetic).
Akasa Air: Offers “Café Akasa” with a diverse menu (over 45 options) for pre-booking (up to 12 hours before flight, 48 hours for cakes). Meals are served on flights longer than 60 minutes.

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Pricing & fare options

IndiGo:

Lite: Ideal for Cabin baggage-only travelers.
Flexi: Includes standard checked baggage and offers some flexibility for changes/cancellations (fees may apply).
Super 6E: Higher checked baggage allowance, free seat selection, and potentially other perks.

SpiceJet:

SpiceSaver: Caters to budget-conscious travelers with basic services.
SpiceFlex: Includes some perks like preferred seating/meal options.
SpiceMax: Premium economy bundle with extra legroom, priority services, complimentary meal & baggage delivery.

Air India Express:

Xpress Lite: Hand baggage only (7kg).
Xpress Value: Includes 15kg checked baggage.
Xpress Flex: Allows unlimited flight changes (no change fees; fare difference may apply).
Biz: Fares related to the Business Class cabin/upgrade.

Akasa Air:

Saver: Basic fare and covers travel essentials.
Flexi: Allows changes with fewer fees, offering more flexibility.

Baggage allowance & policies (standard economy fares)

Cabin baggage:

Generally 1 piece up to 7kg across all four airlines. IndiGo explicitly mentions an additional small personal item (e.g., laptop bag, purse) up to 3kg is allowed. Dimensions are around 115 cm (L+W+H).

Checked baggage (Domestic flights):

IndiGo: 15 kg. (Double/MultiSeat bookings get an extra 10kg).
SpiceJet: 15 kg.
Air India Express: 15 kg (for Xpress Value/Flex fares; Xpress Lite is cabin baggage only).
Akasa Air: 15 kg (included in Saver and Flexi fares).

Excess baggage: Fees apply across all airlines for exceeding limits. Pre-purchasing extra baggage online is usually cheaper than paying at the airport. International baggage allowances vary significantly and depend on the route/fare – always check directly.

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On-time performance (OTP) & reliability

IndiGo: Generally considered reliable with high OTP. Cited as leading in punctuality in Dec 2024 (73.4% OTP per DGCA). Often preferred for business travel due to perceived reliability.
Akasa Air: As a newer airline, it emerged as the most punctual across four major metro airports for 2024 (71.32% OTP for departures).
SpiceJet: Has faced reports of operational issues, including delays and cancellations. For instance, two flight cancellations occurred in Pune in Feb 2025. Punctuality may be less consistent.
Air India Express: According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India Express achieved an OTP of 90.0% on 2 April 2025, highlighting the airline’s efficiency and punctuality.

(Note: OTP figures can fluctuate monthly. Always check the latest DGCA reports for current performance data).

Who is the clear winner?

Based on the comparison:

For reliability & widest network: IndiGo is often considered the safest bet due to its vast domestic and international reach and generally strong on-time performance.
For potential comfort upgrades on a budget: Air India Express (with its Biz Upgrade option) or SpiceJet (with SpiceMax) could be good choices if you value extra comfort without a full-service airline price tag.
For a modern fleet experience: Akasa Air, being the newest airline with an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet, might appeal to those looking to try a new carrier with modern aircraft features like quieter cabins.
For regional connectivity: SpiceJet‘s use of Q400 aircraft makes it a strong contender for reaching smaller towns under the UDAN scheme.