Air India, India’s leading global airline, has announced four new interline partnerships. These partnerships aim to enhance connectivity to Europe, especially the Baltic region, Eastern Europe, and parts of Central Asia. With these agreements, Air India passengers will now have the option to travel to over 16 destinations across six countries without any interruptions or difficulties. This initiative will also benefit travelers from partner airlines, allowing them easy access to India.
The announcements were made during the 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi, where Air India signed agreements with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways. This new collaboration strengthens Air India’s position as a global connector, providing travelers with the convenience of single-ticket journeys linked with various destinations across continents. The coordinated baggage allowances and handling with partner airlines will further enhance the travel experience.
### Four Partner Airlines Offering Seamless Connectivity
1. **airBaltic**: Passengers can now access Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) via Air India’s European gateways in Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, or Dubai.
2. **Bulgaria Air**: This partnership allows travelers to reach Sofia through Air India’s gateways in London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv, facilitating travel to Bulgaria’s vibrant cities. Passengers can also fly to other Bulgarian cities like Varna and Burgas.
3. **Cyprus Airways**: Offers connections to Larnaca (Cyprus) through Air India’s gateways in Paris, Milan, and Dubai, opening up important cultural and economic hubs in the Mediterranean for Indian travelers.
4. **Uzbekistan Airways**: Provides connectivity from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa to Tashkent, with further connections to Bukhara, Karshi, Nukus, Urgench, Termez, Samarkand, Fergana, and Namangan.
In addition to these new routes, Air India will also enable passengers from its partner airlines to easily access over 30 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi.
Nipun Agrawal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed excitement about the new partnerships. He stated, “These four new interline partners will significantly enhance Air India’s global reach. They will open seamless pathways to vibrant cities in some of the most important emerging markets today.” Agrawal added that the partnerships will present more travel options and a comfortable experience for customers while strengthening India’s position as a major global aviation hub.
Bookings for these interline connections can be made progressively through Air India’s website, mobile app, or through travel agents worldwide. This development is a significant step towards improving international connectivity and providing better options for travelers flying to and from India.
With the increasing demand for air travel in the post-pandemic world, Air India’s strategic partnerships are set to attract more passengers seeking convenient and diverse travel options across Europe and Central Asia. This growth aligns with the airline’s vision to enhance customer experience and expand its global footprint, making it a key player in the competitive airline industry.
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