Air India and Virgin Australia have announced a new codeshare partnership designed to significantly improve connectivity and ease of travel between India and Australia. The unilateral codeshare agreement allows Air India to place its ‘AI’ code on flights operated by Virgin Australia. This development opens up enhanced travel opportunities for Air India passengers, particularly those flying from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney, and provides seamless onward connections to 16 destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
The 16 cities included in the agreement are Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand), Sunshine Coast, and Sydney. This collaboration ensures that passengers can travel on a single ticket, with their baggage checked through to their final destination, simplifying the travel experience.
“We are excited to partner with Air India to make it easier for their customers to explore everything Australia has to offer. India is a growing tourism market for Australia, and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country, thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network,” said Alistair Hartley, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Virgin Australia.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Air India, commented, “Australia is one of Air India’s most important international markets, and we are incredibly excited to be partnering with Virgin Australia to expand our presence in the region. This partnership offers greater ease and access for the Indian diaspora across the continent, while also providing new opportunities for holidaymakers to explore Australia’s iconic destinations.”
Air India operates 14 weekly flights between India and Australia, with non-stop daily services from Delhi to Melbourne and Sydney using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline’s passengers will also benefit from world-class Business and Economy Class services on Virgin Australia’s flights.
