Air India announced it has entered interline partnerships with four major airlines from emerging markets enhancing connectivity to Europe, particularly the Baltic region and parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The partnerships will provide Air India guests seamless travel options to 16 more destinations across 6 countries in these regions, while providing easier access to India to the passengers of the respective partner airlines.
Air India signed these interline agreements with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, on the sidelines of the 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi. The new partnerships further strengthen Air India’s position as a global connector, enabling a passenger to travel across continents with a single-ticket itinerary that combines Air India flights with those of its partner airlines as well as coordinated baggage allowance & handling.
The airlines include:
- airBaltic: Provides access to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) via Air India’s European gateways at Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, or Dubai.
- Bulgaria Air: Provides access to Sofia via Air India’s gateways at London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv, supporting travel to the vibrant Eastern European city. Air India guests can also take further onward connections from Sofia to other Bulgarian cities of Varna and Burgas.
- Cyprus Airways: Provides access to Larnaca (Cyprus) via Air India’s European gateways at Paris, Milan, and Dubai, opening one of the Mediterranean’s key cultural and economic hubs for Indian travellers.
- Uzbekistan Airways: Provides access to Tashkent from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa-Mopa (GOX), as well as further onward connections from Tashkent to Bukhara, Qarshi, Nukus, Urgench, Termez, Samarkand, Fergana, and Namangan.
Conversely, Air India will provide convenient access to more than 30 Indian cities to the customers of its four partner airlines, including but not limited to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi.
“These four new interline partnerships significantly enhance Air India’s global reach and open seamless pathways to vibrant cities across some of the most important emerging markets of today,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “Our partnerships with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, bring more travel options and smoother journeys for our growing base of customers worldwide as well as reinforce India’s rising status as a key global aviation hub.”
Air India and Icelandair to codeshare on 15 routes across India and Europe
Air India and Icelandair announced a new codeshare partnership, significantly boosting connectivity between India and Iceland. This strategic partnership strengthens travel and trade ties between India and Iceland, offering passengers greater flexibility and choice while ensuring a seamless travel experience with convenient connections times, unified baggage allowances, and enhanced connectivity through major European hub airports.
Under this codeshare agreement:
- Air India customers will gain seamless access to Icelandair-operated flights to Reykjavik (KEF) via Air India’s European gateways. Air India will add its ‘AI’ designator code on Icelandair-operated flights between Reykjavik and London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Milan, and Zurich.
- Icelandair customers will benefit from convenient connections on Air India-operated flights to key Indian cities. Icelandair will add its ‘FI’ designator code on Air India-operated flights between Delhi and Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow; and between Mumbai and Frankfurt, London Heathrow.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Air India, said: “We are happy to embark on this codeshare partnership with Icelandair, which unites two airlines committed to connecting the world. By combining our strengths, we are creating a seamless bridge between India’s vibrant destinations and Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes. This partnership underscores Air India’s ambition to expand our global reach while offering Icelandair’s customers seamless access to India’s diverse destinations.”
“This strategic partnership with Air India marks a significant milestone, opening up exciting new travel opportunities from across our network in North America and Europe to and from India,” said Bogi Nils Bogason, President and CEO of Icelandair. “It will connect Iceland to Air India’s extensive network, allowing us to introduce what Iceland has to offer to their customers. We have and will continue to expand our network of partner airlines, focusing on working with airlines like Air India that offer great service and connectivity.”
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