Air India & Lufthansa Expand Codeshare, Add 100 New Routes

Air India and Lufthansa Group have significantly expanded their codeshare partnership, adding nearly 100 new routes. This includes a brand-new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines and an extension of existing agreements with Lufthansa and SWISS.

The enhanced collaboration aims to improve travel options and convenience for passengers flying between India, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

Key Highlights of the Expanded Codeshare

• New Partnership: Air India now codeshares with Austrian Airlines for the first time.
• Increased Routes: The agreement adds 60 new codeshare routes across 12 Indian and 26 European cities.
• Expanded Network: Air India customers can now access 26 destinations across Europe and three in the Americas beyond its European gateways in Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich.
• Lufthansa Group Passengers: Lufthansa Group customers can now connect to Air India’s domestic services in 15 Indian cities and three international destinations.

New & Expanded Codeshare Routes

1. Lufthansa (Frankfurt Hub)

New codeshare flights between Frankfurt and key destinations, including:

• Europe: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Munich, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.
• Americas: Washington D.C., Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo.

2. SWISS (Zurich Hub)

Codeshare routes between Zurich and major European cities such as:

• Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, and Stuttgart.

3. Austrian Airlines (Vienna Hub)

New routes between Vienna and European destinations include:

• Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stuttgart, Valencia.

Lufthansa Group Customers Gain Access to More Indian Destinations

Lufthansa Group carriers will now add their designator codes to Air India’s domestic services, expanding access to 15 Indian cities:

Key Destinations: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa (Mopa & Dabolim), Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram.

International Expansion: Lufthansa Group passengers can now fly on Air India codeshare flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Enhanced Travel Experience for Passengers

The expanded codeshare arrangement ensures seamless connectivity between India and Europe, offering multiple flight options on key routes.

For instance, passengers travelling between Delhi and Frankfurt now have three daily options under the Lufthansa (LH) flight number, including two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.

Frequent Flyer Benefits & Star Alliance Perks

As members of Star Alliance, Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers continue to offer loyalty benefits:

• Miles Redemption & Accrual: Passengers can earn and redeem points on Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programs.
• Premium Benefits: Elite members enjoy priority services, extra baggage allowances, and airport lounge access globally.

Leadership Statements on the Expanded Partnership

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India:

“Our goal is to enable our customers to travel seamlessly across the world. This expanded partnership with Lufthansa Group strengthens our global network and elevates the travel experience.”

Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufthansa Group:

“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Air India, providing increased travel options and improved connectivity between Europe and India. This collaboration reinforces our long-term commitment to the Indian market.”

Future Expansion Plans

Air India and Lufthansa Group plan to progressively add more destinations to their codeshare arrangements, ensuring greater flexibility and convenience for travellers across both networks.

Final Thoughts

The expanded Air India-Lufthansa Group codeshare partnership marks a major milestone in global air travel. It offers more routes, better connectivity, and enhanced benefits for passengers. As both airlines continue to grow their networks, travellers can look forward to an improved, seamless flying experience between India, Europe, and beyond.