New Delhi, February 20, 2025 – In a significant move to enhance travel options between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe, Air India and Lufthansa Group have announced a sweeping expansion of their longstanding codeshare partnership. The agreement, unveiled today, introduces approximately 60 new codeshare routes, connecting 12 Indian cities with 26 European destinations, alongside additional gateways in the Americas. This development nearly doubles the total number of codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa, and SWISS, from 55 to almost 100, while also marking the debut of a new codeshare pact with Austrian Airlines.
The expanded partnership promises seamless travel and greater convenience for passengers on both sides. Air India customers will now enjoy access to an extensive network of 26 European cities and three additional destinations in the Americas, routed through Lufthansa Group’s key hubs in Frankfurt, Zurich, and Vienna. Among the new routes, Lufthansa will operate codeshare flights from Frankfurt to cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, and Munich, as well as long-haul connections to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Washington D.C. SWISS will extend its codeshare services from Zurich to destinations like Brussels, Copenhagen, Manchester, and Prague, while Austrian Airlines will link Vienna to cities including Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, and Stockholm.
In return, Lufthansa Group passengers will gain enhanced access to Air India’s robust domestic network, covering 15 Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa (both Mopa and Dabolim airports), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune, among others. The agreement also includes codeshares on Air India’s international flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney, further broadening travel options for European travelers exploring Asia and Australia.
A key highlight of this collaboration is the increased flexibility for passengers traveling between India and Germany or Switzerland. For instance, the Delhi-Frankfurt route will now offer three daily flights each way—two operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa—providing greater scheduling convenience.
As fellow members of the Star Alliance, Air India, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines will continue to offer reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. Passengers enrolled in Air India’s Maharaja Club or Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programs can earn and redeem miles across all four carriers, while elite status holders will enjoy Star Alliance Gold perks, including priority check-in, extra baggage allowances, and access to lounges worldwide.
Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, hailed the partnership as a milestone in the airline’s global ambitions. “Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world to another via Air India and its partner airlines. The expansion of our partnership with Lufthansa Group is a step in that direction,” he said.
Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, echoed this sentiment: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Air India and elevate the travel experience for our joint customers. By further enhancing our cooperation, we will increase the travel options between Europe and India.”
Pending regulatory approvals, the new codeshare flights will gradually become available for booking through the airlines’ respective platforms, marking a new chapter in India-Europe air connectivity.