NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New Delhi, February 21, 2025 – Air India and Lufthansa Group have announced a significant expansion of their codeshare partnership, adding nearly 60 new routes across 12 Indian and 26 European cities. This move enhances connectivity between the Indian subcontinent and Europe, offering travelers increased flexibility and convenience.
As part of the agreement, Air India has entered into a new codeshare partnership with Austrian Airlines and expanded its existing agreements with Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). The number of codeshare routes between Air India and Lufthansa Group airlines will now grow from 55 to approximately 100.
Air India passengers will now have access to 26 European destinations and three locations in the Americas beyond the airline’s current gateways in Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. Austrian Airlines, for the first time, will offer 26 additional codeshare routes under the partnership. Some of the key European cities covered under this expansion include Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, Munich, and Prague, among others.
Reciprocally, Lufthansa Group passengers will gain enhanced access to Air India’s domestic network, connecting to 15 Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. Furthermore, Lufthansa Group airlines will extend their codeshare to select international Air India flights, including those to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney from Delhi and Mumbai.
For flights between India and Germany or Switzerland, passengers will now have more options under the codeshare arrangement. For example, travelers flying between Delhi and Frankfurt can choose from three daily flights under the Lufthansa (LH) flight code, including two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, stated, “Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world via Air India and its partner airlines. This expanded partnership with Lufthansa Group is a step in that direction, and we are pleased to take our long-standing relationship to the next level.”
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Air India and enhance travel options for our joint customers. This cooperation will provide improved access to additional destinations and reinforce Lufthansa Group’s commitment to India.”
Both Air India and Lufthansa Group are members of the Star Alliance, allowing passengers to earn and redeem points through frequent flyer programs and benefit from Star Alliance Gold privileges, such as extra baggage allowance and lounge access.
The expanded codeshare flights will be progressively made available for booking, subject to regulatory approvals. This partnership marks a significant step in boosting travel connectivity between India and Europe while offering a seamless experience to passengers across both regions.
