Air India and the Lufthansa Group have significantly expanded their codeshare partnership, introducing approximately 60 new routes to enhance connectivity between the Indian subcontinent and Europe. This development includes a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines and the extension of existing arrangements with Lufthansa and SWISS. The collaboration now includes nearly 100 codeshare routes, covering 12 Indian and 26 European cities and select destinations in the Americas.
This partnership enables Air India passengers to access a broader network of destinations across Europe and the Americas via key Lufthansa Group hubs in Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. Conversely, Lufthansa Group customers gain improved access to Air India’s domestic routes within India and select international destinations. This reciprocal arrangement aims to provide seamless travel experiences for passengers traversing these regions.
“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 this partnership holds,” noted Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group.
Key destinations and routes
Under the new codeshare agreement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines to various European and American cities. Notable destinations include:
- Lufthansa (via Frankfurt): Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Manchester, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia, Washington D.C., Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
- SWISS (via Zurich): Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, and Valencia.
- Austrian Airlines (via Vienna): Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Manchester, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, and Valencia.
Additionally, Lufthansa Group carriers will add their respective codes to Air India’s domestic flights to 15 Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa (Mopa and Dabolim), Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Internationally, codeshare services will extend to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney from Delhi and Mumbai.
Benefits for passengers
The expanded codeshare arrangement provides several advantages to passengers. One of the key benefits is increased flight options, allowing travellers to choose from a wider range of flights and schedules. This enhances flexibility and convenience when planning trips between India, Europe, and the Americas.
Another significant advantage is the seamless travel experience. Coordinated flight schedules and improved connectivity reduce transit times and ensure smoother transfers at major hubs such as Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. Passengers can book their entire journey under a single ticket, simplifying check-in and baggage handling.
Frequent flyer programme members also benefit from the codeshare expansion. As both Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers are part of the Star Alliance, passengers can earn and redeem miles across multiple airlines. Elite status members receive additional privileges, including priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to premium airport lounges. This partnership strengthens the overall travel experience, making long-haul journeys more efficient and rewarding.
“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,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. With regulatory approvals pending, these newly integrated routes will gradually become available for booking through the respective airline channels.
