Air India signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa Group to enhance air connectivity between India and Europe through expanded cooperation and coordinated network planning.
The agreement extends beyond Air India to include its subsidiary Air India Express, as well as Lufthansa Group carriers including Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways and Swiss International Air Lines.
Enhancing seamless travel
The MoU aims to offer passengers more seamless travel options on key routes through coordinated route planning, aligned flight schedules and broader commercial cooperation. It builds on existing codeshare agreements and the airlines’ shared membership in the Star Alliance network.
The partnership will explore joint sales, marketing and distribution initiatives, with the goal of improving connectivity and customer experience across both regions.
Focus on core European markets
The initial focus of the agreement will be on passenger traffic between India and Lufthansa Group’s core European markets — Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. The scope may later expand to additional European destinations and parts of the Indian subcontinent, subject to regulatory approvals. Specific routes and markets will be finalised in due course.
Leadership perspective
Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, welcomed the agreement, stating that the milestone represents positive news for travellers and businesses between India and Europe. He noted that as Air India continues to expand its global footprint with a modernising fleet and enhanced product and service offerings, the framework enables closer cooperation to support growing trade and commerce between the regions.
Building on a strong foundation
Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers currently codeshare on 145 routes across 15 Indian cities and 29 European cities in 20 countries. In February 2025, the airlines expanded their codeshare arrangements to include Air India, Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines.
The new MoU builds on this established partnership, further strengthening connectivity between India and Europe while enhancing travel options for passengers across both networks.
