Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have significantly expanded their codeshare partnership, adding 11 Indian cities and 40 international destinations. This marks the first major expansion of their codeshare agreement since 2010, with the new network set to be rolled out from October 27, 2024. Both airlines plan to progressively include more destinations under the arrangement.
The expanded partnership comes ahead of Vistara’s merger with Air India, which will see SIA holding a 25.1% stake in the merged entity. Currently, SIA holds a 49% stake in Vistara, with the Tata Group holding 51%. The merger is expected to create synergies between the airlines, and the codeshare expansion is seen as part of this broader collaboration.
Through the codeshare agreement, Air India customers will gain access to 29 destinations in SIA’s global network, including cities in Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, SIA customers will be able to connect to Air India’s domestic flights and its international services from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to 12 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The enhanced codeshare will streamline ticketing, check-in, and baggage services for travelers, offering them greater connectivity and convenience. Subject to regulatory approvals, the expanded codeshare flights will be available for booking through both airlines’ respective channels.
Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed enthusiasm about offering passengers more options and an extended global network. Lee Lik Hsin, SIA’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the importance of India as a key market and emphasized their commitment to meeting the growing demand for travel between India and Singapore and beyond.
