Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have announced a significant expansion of their codeshare agreement, enhancing connectivity and travel options for passengers across Southeast Asia, the Far East, Australasia, and beyond. It introduces 51 new codeshare destinations to their combined network, including 11 cities in India and 40 international destinations. This expansion marks the most substantial extension of codeshare arrangements between the two airlines since 2010 and underscores both carriers’ commitment to meeting the rising demand for travel between India, Singapore, and beyond.
Beginning on October 27, 2024, the expanded agreement will allow Air India and SIA to codeshare flights between Singapore and key Indian cities, as well as numerous other domestic and international routes. This will boost their scheduled codeshare services between the two countries from the current 14 per week to an impressive 56, reflecting the growing demand for travel between India and Singapore, with the aim of providing passengers with greater flexibility and convenience.
For Air India’s domestic network, Singapore Airlines will now codeshare on a variety of Air India’s flights, connecting Delhi to Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Lucknow, and Varanasi, as well as linking Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Goa, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Thiruvananthapuram. Additional codeshare arrangements will allow Singapore Airlines passengers to connect between Kolkata and Guwahati, providing a more seamless travel experience for those visiting multiple destinations within India.
Meanwhile, Air India customers will enjoy access to an expansive range of destinations across the Singapore Airlines network, covering popular cities throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.
The new codeshare options also extend to Air India’s international services from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, allowing Singapore Airlines customers to travel to 12 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including major European cities, as well as destinations in the United Kingdom. Passengers can also access Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Colombo in Sri Lanka. This wide-reaching network will grant Air India and Singapore Airlines customers increased opportunities to explore new destinations with added convenience and streamlined connections.
Both airlines are committed to ensuring a smooth rollout of these expanded codeshare arrangements. Subject to regulatory approvals, the new codeshare flights will become progressively available for booking through each airline’s respective booking platforms.
For Air India, this expansion represents a crucial step in its strategy to improve its international footprint, offering customers more choice and a larger global network. Through its hubs in India, the airline aims to facilitate better connectivity across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The added convenience of new codeshare destinations across SIA’s network aligns with Air India’s efforts to provide seamless travel experiences for its passengers, enabling a one-stop booking process for complex international itineraries.
For Singapore Airlines, the partnership underscores the carrier’s commitment to serving the high-demand India-Singapore route and beyond, offering its customers better access to popular and regional destinations within India by leveraging Air India’s extensive domestic network, strengthening Singapore Airlines’ footprint in India, and positioning the airline to meet rising demand and enhance its competitive offering in the region.
The collaboration also reflects a broader trend within the aviation industry, where partnerships are critical for airlines seeking to extend their networks without expanding fleets. Codeshares allow airlines to serve more destinations with increased flexibility and operational efficiency, benefiting passengers who can access a greater range of routes and convenient connections.
This expansion also holds significance for the Indian travel market, which is expected to see continued growth as the middle class expands and demand for international travel rises. Both airlines anticipate that the added routes will not only enhance travel options for passengers but also contribute to strengthening trade, tourism, and cultural connections between India, Singapore, and other key markets.
As Air India and Singapore Airlines continue to progressively add new destinations to their codeshare arrangements, this partnership marks a milestone in aviation collaboration, setting the stage for future growth and connectivity across one of the world’s most dynamic travel corridors.
