Air India eyes global expansion with airline partnerships across key emerging markets
June 5, 2025
In a strategic bid to expand its global network, this week has seen Air India accelerate its international expansion, with a series of airline partnerships across Europe, the Baltics, Iceland, Central Asia and Africa.
The Indian carrier has this week announced an expanded codeshare agreement with Air Mauritius, a new codeshare partnership with Icelandair and interline deals with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways and Uzbekistan Airways. The agreements were revealed earlier this week during the 81st International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Assembly (AGM), which took place in Delhi, where Air India has its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Interline agreements
The interline collaborations significantly widen Air India’s network across Eastern Europe and Central Asia , offering customers access to 16 new destinations across six countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Uzbekistan. The interline deals will enable passengers to seamlessly connect between Air India and its partner airlines with a single ticket and coordinated baggage handling.
“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 and reinforce India’s rising status as a key global aviation hub,” said Nipun Aggarwal, CCO, Air India.
Codeshare collaborations
Meanwhile, as part of the renewed codeshare with Air Mauritius, both carriers will place their designator codes on 17 routes between India, Mauritius, Réunion, South Africa and Madagascar. This collaboration will strengthen connectivity to Southern Africa, a region where India plays a key role as a tourism and trade partner.
Similarly, the newly formed codeshare with Icelandair is designed to build closer links between India and Iceland, creating access to 15 routes across India, Europe and North America.
Describing India as “one of the largest tourism source markets for destinations in Southern Africa, including Mauritius and South Africa,” Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India, added, “This expanded codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius is another step toward widening our extended global network, which enables our customers to easily access these destinations.”
All the agreements made over the last week are in line with Air India’s broader transformation under the Tata Group, which has prioritised modernisation, global competitiveness, and customer-centric growth. By tapping into underserved but rapidly growing regions, the airline is advancing India’s ambitions as an aviation hub connecting East and West.
