Air India, Lufthansa Expand Codeshare Network
Air India and Germany’s Lufthansa Group are set to elevate travel between the Indian subcontinent and Europe with a major expansion of their longstanding codeshare partnership. The revamped agreement, which also introduces a new codeshare deal with Austrian Airlines, will significantly boost flight options and connectivity for travelers. Together with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), all four carriers will offer almost 60 codeshare routes connecting 12 Indian and 26 European destinations.
Under the expanded partnership, the number of codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa, and SWISS will nearly double from 55 to almost 100. Additionally, the new agreement with Austrian Airlines will add another 26 routes to the network. As all four carriers are members of Star Alliance, this enhanced cooperation promises to deliver a seamless travel experience and greater route flexibility for passengers across two continents.
Starting February 20, 2025, Air India will offer its customers a total of 26 European destinations plus three destinations in the Americas beyond three key Lufthansa Group gateways—Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich. On all codeshare services, the Air India “AI” designator code will be displayed, ensuring brand consistency and ease of connection. In a reciprocal move, passengers flying with Lufthansa Group carriers will have the opportunity to connect to Air India’s domestic network, serving 15 key Indian cities. These include Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa Mopa, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram.
In addition, Lufthansa Group carriers will incorporate their own designator codes on Air India’s international services from Delhi and Mumbai to three key destinations: Kathmandu (Nepal), as well as Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. The expansion further extends to flights currently operated by Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers between India and Germany or Switzerland. For instance, customers flying between Delhi and Frankfurt will now benefit from three daily flight options each way under the “LH” flight numbers—two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa. Both airlines have expressed plans to gradually include even more destinations under this codeshare umbrella.
“Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world to another via Air India and its partner airlines,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India. “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.” Aggarwal highlighted the enhanced connectivity and the warm, quintessential Indian hospitality that will greet passengers on Air India flights.
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, echoed this enthusiasm: “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 travel options between Europe and India and offer improved access to additional destinations. Lufthansa Group remains committed to India, and we are excited about the possibilities this partnership presents.”
As regulatory approvals are finalized, the expanded codeshare agreements promise to make travel between Europe and India more seamless, offering improved connectivity, increased route choices, and a more integrated Star Alliance experience for all passengers.
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