Lufthansa Group and Air India expand codeshare deal
Air India is set to enhance travel connectivity between the Indian subcontinent and Europe through an expanded codeshare partnership with the Lufthansa Group.
This development introduces a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines and broadens existing collaborations with Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
The enhanced partnership will add nearly 60 codeshare routes, connecting 12 Indian cities to 26 European destinations.
Air India’s customers will now have access to 26 European destinations and three in the Americas via European gateways in Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. The ‘AI’ designator code will be placed on services operated by Lufthansa Group airlines, including Austrian Airlines for the first time.
Lufthansa Group passengers can now connect to Air India’s domestic flights covering 15 Indian cities, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Furthermore, Lufthansa Group carriers will add their codes to Air India’s international services to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney from Delhi and Mumbai.
This expanded codeshare partnership also encompasses flights between India and Germany or Switzerland. For instance, travellers between Delhi and Frankfurt will have three daily flight options, all bearing ‘LH’ flight numbers, with two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.
“Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world to another via Air India and its partner airlines. The expansion of our partnership with Lufthansa Group is a step in that direction, and we are pleased to take this long-standing relationship to the next level,” said Nipun Aggarwal, chief commercial officer, Air India.
“With this renewed partnership, our customers will have access to more destinations and greater flexibility to travel across Europe on Lufthansa Group carriers.
“It also gives us the opportunity to serve Lufthansa Group customers, with warmth and quintessential Indian hospitality, aboard Air India flights. We look forward to continue working closely with our Star Alliance partners in making the world feel like a smaller place”
Dieter Vranckx, chief commercial officer, Lufthansa Group, said: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Air India and elevate the travel experience for our joint customers.
“By further enhancing our cooperation, we will increase the travel options between Europe and India and offer our passengers improved access to additional destinations. Lufthansa Group remains committed to India, and we are excited about the possibilities and potential the country and Air India as a partner have to offer.”
