IndiGo joins forces with Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, setting the stage for what the group describes as an “industry-leading partnership” between North America, Europe, the UK and India.
The collaboration is designed to enhance access to key global markets, broaden network coverage and offer a more unified travel experience for passengers flying between the regions.
The move comes as India emerges as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, with a groping middle class and increasing international mobility driving rapid growth in air travel demand.
The new alliance aims to capitalise on that momentum by combining IndiGo’s vast domestic footprint with Delta’s extensive reach in the US, Air France-KLM’s transatlantic and European strengths, and Virgin Atlantic’s established presence between Europe and the US.
The arrangement is expected to link dozens of cities across India, Europe and North America, offering better connectivity and smoother transfers for travellers while also deepening cooperation between the carriers in areas such as scheduling, customer service and loyalty benefits.
IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers said: “IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation.
“This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France–KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner.
“We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners’ networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America.
“This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery.”
The initiative also marks a significant development for Delta, which plans to reintroduce direct services from the US to India, following a prolonged absence from the market. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: “This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible.
“Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.”
Air France-KLM, which already has a codeshare in place with IndiGo, sees the expansion as a natural next step. Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Franco-Dutch group, said: “We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country’s connectivity.”
Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, is building on its existing relationship with both IndiGo and the other transatlantic partners. Shai Weiss, the airline’s CEO, said: “In our 25th year of flying to India, we’re delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we’ll connect four of the world’s largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits.”
The group did not confirm a specific timeline for launching joint operations but signalled intentions to pursue commercial and operational integration. The proposed partnership comes at a time when global airline alliances are being reshaped, with carriers increasingly favouring tailored joint ventures and regional tie-ups over traditional alliance models.
If the new initiative receives regulatory approval and is successfully implemented, it could significantly alter the long-haul travel landscape between India and Western markets, especially at a time when demand is shifting toward multi-stop itineraries and premium leisure travel.
