Air India and Lufthansa Group are taking their longstanding partnership to new heights with a major expansion of their codeshare agreement. The enhanced collaboration introduces nearly 60 additional routes, significantly boosting connectivity between India and Europe while also extending access to destinations in Australia and the Americas.
A key highlight of this agreement is Air India’s new codeshare partnership with Austrian Airlines, alongside expanded arrangements with Lufthansa and SWISS. This move increases the total number of codeshare routes between Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers from 55 to nearly 100, offering travelers greater flexibility and seamless connectivity.
Enhanced Travel Options for Passengers
With this expansion, Lufthansa Group passengers will now have access to Air India’s domestic network, covering 15 Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Additionally, Lufthansa Group airlines will place their flight codes on Air India’s international routes to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney, further strengthening connectivity beyond India.
Meanwhile, Air India will now be able to offer its customers connections to 26 destinations across Europe and three in the Americas via Lufthansa Group’s hubs in Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. These new routes, operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines, include major European cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, and Manchester, among others.
Seamless Experience for Flyers
The expanded partnership also benefits frequent flyers, as Air India and Lufthansa Group are both members of Star Alliance. Passengers can continue to earn and redeem points or miles across all four airlines. Elite status holders will also enjoy premium perks such as priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to airport lounges worldwide.
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, expressed excitement about the strengthened collaboration, stating, “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 potential this partnership holds.”
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Our goal is to enable our customers to travel seamlessly across the world with Air India and our partner airlines. This expansion with Lufthansa Group is a step forward in that direction, providing our customers with greater flexibility and access to more destinations.”
Looking Ahead
Both airlines plan to further expand their codeshare offerings by adding more destinations over time. Subject to regulatory approvals, the newly introduced routes will be progressively made available for booking through the respective airline channels.
This strengthened partnership between Air India and Lufthansa Group is a clear win for travelers, offering a smoother, more connected journey between India, Europe, and beyond.
