Singapore Airlines Teams Up with Air India: Codeshare Expansion Takes Flight!
Well, well, well! It looks like Singapore Airlines and Air India have decided to shake hands — and what a handshake it is! It’s practically a bear hug wrapped in a seatbelt. They’ve put ink to paper, agreeing to expand their codeshare agreement with 11 new domestic cities and a thrilling 40 international destinations. That’s right; remember the good ol’ days of flying with limited options? Forget about it! The airlines have wised up since 2010, and now it’s *game on* for the globe-trotters out there.
Routes, Routes, and More Routes!
Starting from October 27, 2024, the skies will look a little fuller as the codeshare will uplift routes between Bengaluru and Chennai to Singapore. And guess what that means? The number of direct flights per week between these two countries will increase from a measly 14 to a whopping 56! That’s like having four more movies on Netflix when you were convinced you’d seen it all. Talk about a binge-flying opportunity!
The Delight of Domestic Diversification
Singapore Airlines is gearing up to operate Air India’s domestic routes like it’s the hottest ticket in town. We’re talking links from Delhi to cities like Amritsar and Varanasi. They’ll soon be your trusty travel buddy, helping you hop from Mumbai to Kolkata like a caffeinated kangaroo! And they can certainly handle the pressure; after all, India is no small fry when it comes to tourism and travel. Who thought that connecting Kolkata to Guwahati was just the tip of the iceberg? Passed the curry, please!
For the Jetsetters Out There
Air India passengers will now have the opportunity to soar to 29 enticing destinations on Singapore Airlines’ network. Think of it as a culinary buffet of travel options! Want sushi in Tokyo? Go for it! Craving croissants in Paris? Now you can get there too without needing a genie!
From the bustling streets of Osaka to the pristine beaches of Bali, your travel wishlist is about to get a serious upgrade. If Canada wasn’t on your radar yet, it might as well be now, along with a grand adventure in Australia—Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, you name it. And those dreams of hitting other exotic spots? Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City are all on the ticket as well! It’s like the world is saying, “Come on in, the water’s fine!”
Not to Leave Out the Long-Haul Luxury
But wait, there’s more! Singapore Airlines passengers can now venture forth on Air India’s international flights from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to 12 magnificent locales across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. If you thought you couldn’t fall more in love with travel, you might just need to take a breath and embark on a romantic escapade to places like Frankfurt, Milan, or even Nairobi. Should we cue the romantic music now? 🎶
What the Airline Executives Are Saying
As Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s CCO, declares, “We’re long-standing partners… it’s now even more convenient.” Well, if that doesn’t sound like the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Meanwhile, Lee Riksin at Singapore Airlines managed to pull off some euphoric jargon about the codeshare expansion being a demonstration of commitment. Ah, nothing says “We love each other!” like adding more flight options to a relationship.
Looking to the Future
With plans to gradually expand the routes covered by this delightful partnership, the codeshare concept is about to make your travel aspirations more attainable than ever before. Just imagine: hopping on a flight, basking in the clouds, and dreaming about your next gourmet meal while your itinerary practically prepares itself!
So buckle up, travelers! Feel free to put your feet up (unless you’re in Economy class, in which case, you might want to ask politely). The skies are about to get more crowded, but thankfully, it’s for all the right reasons. Don’t forget to pack your bags; the world is calling, and thanks to this expanded codeshare, it’s now easier than ever to answer!
Air India CCO Nipun Aggarwal (left) and Singapore Airlines CCO Lee Riksin (right) sign an agreement to expand codeshare flights in Delhi, India. Photo: Air India
Singapore Airlines (Headquarters: Singapore, CEO: Goh Choon Peng) and Air India (Headquarters: Gurugram India, CEO: Campbell Wilson) have agreed to significantly expand their codeshare agreement, with 11 domestic Added cities and 40 international cities to the network. This is the first major codeshare expansion between the two airlines since 2010 and will provide customers with greater travel options between Singapore and India and beyond.
From October 27, 2024, Singapore Airlines and Air India will begin codesharing on routes between the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Chennai and Singapore, increasing the number of scheduled codeshare flights between the two countries from 14 to 56 flights per week. We will increase the number of flights.
Singapore Airlines operates Air India’s domestic routes between Delhi and Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Lucknow and Varanasi, as well as between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Goa, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow and Thiruvananthapuram. Codeshare will be implemented on routes connecting Kolkata and Guwahati.
Air India customers can fly to 29 destinations across Singapore Airlines’ network. Specifically, Tokyo (Haneda/Narita), Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka in Japan; Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney in Australia; Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei; and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia. , Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya in Indonesia, Seoul and Busan in South Korea, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, Auckland in New Zealand, Manila and Cebu in the Philippines, and Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. This also includes existing codeshare flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Additionally, Singapore Airlines customers can connect to Air India’s international flights from Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai and travel to 12 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Target cities include Copenhagen in Denmark, Paris in France, Frankfurt in Germany, Milan in Italy, Nairobi in Kenya, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Birmingham and London (Gatwick Heathrow) in the UK. .
Both companies plan to gradually expand the routes covered by the codeshare alliance.
Once approval is obtained from the relevant authorities, codeshare flights on the target routes will be sold sequentially through each airline’s various reservation channels.
Air India CCO Nipun Aggarwal said:
“Air India and Singapore Airlines are long-standing partners, and with this expanded codeshare partnership, we are pleased to announce that Air India and Singapore Airlines are long-standing partners. Connecting to destinations in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania is now even more convenient. Singapore Airlines also offers flights within India and to multiple destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East via its hubs in India. I look forward to showing you around.”
Singapore Airlines CCO Lee Liksin said:
“Singapore Airlines and Air India’s codeshare expansion reflects the strong partnership between the two companies. It is a demonstration of our commitment and contributes to the growth of the aviation market by adding Air India’s domestic network to our codeshare fleet, which will enable us to better serve our customers in India, an important market for the Singapore Airlines Group. We will now be able to offer more choice and convenience.”
