Air India Partners with Lufthansa on 60 New Codeshare Routes

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Delhi- Air India (AI) and Lufthansa Group have announced a significant expansion of their codeshare partnership, strengthening connectivity between the Indian Subcontinent, Europe and the Americas. This agreement includes a new codeshare arrangement with Austrian Airlines (OS).

This alongside an expanded network with Lufthansa and SWISS (LX), whom Air India already have codeshare agreement. With the new agreement, Air India will be able to provide more seamless and hassle-free travel options for passengers.

Air India Lufthansa Group Codeshare

Air India (AI) codeshare with Lufthansa (LH), Swiss (LX) and offers 55 routes across various destinations. In this new codeshare agreement, Air India now codeshares with Austrian Airlines (OS) via Vienna. The expansion brings nearly 100 codeshare routes, up from the existing 55.

This will enable travelers to access a wider range of destinations. Specifically, 60 new codeshare routes will now be available, covering 12 Indian cities and 26 European cities.

The agreement allows Air India passengers to benefit from more flight options and smoother transit experiences through key European hubs operated by Lufthansa Group airlines.

New Destinations Under Codeshare

As part of this partnership, Air India will now place its ‘AI’ designator code on various routes operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines. These three airlines will be covering major European and American destinations.

Lufthansa (via Frankfurt):

Air India will codeshare with Lufthansa on 19 of the German airline’s network from Frankfurt (FRA). With Lufthansa, Air India will also code share on North America and Soth American routes.

Key destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Manchester, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia, Washington D.C., Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo.

SWISS (via Zurich):

Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on 16 routes Swiss routes across Europe.

Key destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Valencia.

Austrian Airlines (via Vienna):

Air India will codeshare with Austrian Airlines on 17 routes across Europe.

Key destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Manchester, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.

Key Highlights of Codeshare Agreement

Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers will now offer codeshare services on an additional 60 routes. Under this strengthened partnership 12 cities in India and 26 cities across Europe will be covered. The agreement also extends connectivity to three major destinations in the Americas.

Key highlights include:

Expansion to New Destinations – Air India customers will have access to 26 destinations in Europe and 3 in the Americas. Travelers can fly under the ‘AI’ designator code on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines.
Increased European Reach – Travelers from India can now connect via Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich to various destinations. This includes popular destinations such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, Hamburg, Munich, Nice, Prague, and more.
Enhanced Indian Connectivity for Lufthansa – Lufthansa Group customers can now access 15 cities within India, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, and Pune, through Air India’s domestic services.
Three Daily Delhi-Frankfurt Flights – The agreement now includes three daily flight options between Delhi and Frankfurt under the ‘LH’ flight number, providing greater flexibility.
New Codeshare with Austrian Airlines – This marks the first time Air India has partnered with Austrian Airlines, adding 26 new codeshare routes that enhance connectivity via Vienna.

These enhancements mean passengers flying between India and Europe will enjoy greater flexibility, fewer layovers, and better access to Star Alliance benefits, including priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access.

Lufthansa Group Expands Access in India

Reciprocally, Lufthansa Group passengers will now have the ability to connect to 15 major cities within India on Air India flights.

These includes:

Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa (both Mopa and Dabolim airports), Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Additionally, Lufthansa Group airlines will codeshare on Air India’s international flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Kathmandu (KTM), Melbourne, and Sydney. This will enhance global connectivity for Lufthansa Group travelers between India, Nepal, and Australia.

The partnership ensures a more seamless travel experience for customers flying between India and Europe. Flights between India and Germany, Switzerland are now included in the expanded codeshare.

Austrian Airlines codeshare will go live very soon as well. Passengers traveling between cities like Delhi and Frankfurt will have more choices, with three daily flight options under Lufthansa’s ‘LH’ flight numbers—two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.

Furthermore, both airlines plan to progressively add more destinations to their codeshare agreements, further improving the scope of this partnership. With the new codeshare partnership, Air India might also fly to Frankfurt from more Indian cities such as Bengaluru (BLR).

Star Alliance Benefits and Loyalty Program Perks

As members of Star Alliance, Air India and Lufthansa Group continue to offer their frequent flyers enhanced loyalty benefits. Members of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programs will enjoy various benefits.

Travelers can Earn and redeem points/miles across all four airlines – Air India, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines.
Travelers will have access to Star Alliance Gold benefits, including priority services, additional baggage allowance, and airport lounge access.

Leadership Statements on the Partnership

The codeshare expansion aligns with Air India’s long-term strategy to bolster its long-haul operations. As the airline undergoes a transformation under Tata Group ownership, increasing international connectivity remains a top priority.

The partnership with Lufthansa Group complements Air India’s ambitious plans, allowing the carrier to maximize its fleet utilization while offering a broader range of destinations to its customers.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion, stating:

“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.”

Nipun Aggarwal

He further added:

“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.”

Nipun Aggarwal

Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, echoed this enthusiasm, stating:

“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.”

Dieter Vranckx

Bottom Line

The expanded codeshare partnership will enhance global connectivity, particularly between India and Europe.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the new codeshare flights will progressively become available for booking through the respective airlines’ platforms.

This development aligns with Air India’s broader transformation under the Tata Group, as it seeks to improve operations, expand its global footprint, and reinforce its position as India’s leading international airline.

With Lufthansa Group’s strong presence in Europe, this partnership is set to provide travelers with a more connected and convenient air travel experience.

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