Air India and Lufthansa Group sign joint business agreement, focus on route planning and flight schedules
Tata-owned Air India and Lufthansa Group have signed a joint business agreement under which both parties will collaborate on various strategic issues, including coordinated route planning and flight schedules in selected markets, the Indian airline said on Tuesday (Feb 17).
Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to create a framework for a joint business agreement that will include Air India, Air India Express and Lufthansa Group carriers and their subsidiaries. These include Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and other affiliated airlines.
The proposed partnership with German Lufthansa Group also aims to explore opportunities arising from the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement concluded in January.
Regulatory approvals awaited
Air India said the detailed scope, including specific routes and markets, will be determined after a comprehensive joint business agreement is formed, pending regulatory approvals.
“Subject to necessary regulatory and anti-trust approvals, the carriers plan to collaborate across multiple strategic areas, including coordinated route planning and flight schedules as well as joint sales, marketing and distribution initiatives in select markets for greater customer convenience and enhanced connectivity,” Air India said.
“Further collaboration will include joint development and coordination of improved customer experiences in areas such as frequent flyer programs, IT infrastructure (customer journey, quality assurance and other mutually beneficial initiatives) to enhance the ease of travel for our customers,” the airline added.
The MoU will initially aim to increase the flow of passenger traffic between India and the Lufthansa Group’s core domestic market region, which includes Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. They will also consider covering the rest of Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Currently, Air India and Lufthansa Group airlines have codeshare agreements for 145 routes in 15 Indian cities, 29 European cities and 20 countries. In February 2025, both parties announced the expansion of codeshare agreements between Air India, Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines.
Air India has 24 codeshare partnerships and around 100 interline agreements with various carriers. The Codeshare partnership allows passengers to travel on different flights with a single ticket.
Lufthansa Group ranks as the fourth largest airline group worldwide by revenue and fleet size. It operates five national airlines in major European markets, as well as other private, travel-focused airlines such as Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, and more than 300 subsidiaries and affiliates under the Lufthansa Group brand, according to the statement.
