Lufthansa Group deepens partnership with Air India

International

Framework for Joint Business Agreement signed to expand connectivity / India strengthens position as key long-haul growth market

The Lufthansa Group and Air India have agreed to intensify their long-standing cooperation. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and Air India CEO Campbell Wilson signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the framework for a future Joint Business Agreement.

The planned agreement will cover Lufthansa Group airlines as well as Air India and Air India Express. The initiative aims to enhance market access, expand joint flight offerings and improve the customer experience between Europe and India.

Strategic focus on a high-growth aviation market

The expanded cooperation reflects the growing importance of the Indian aviation market. With rising demand driven by economic growth and an expanding middle class, India has become the Lufthansa Group’s second most significant premium long-haul market after the United States.

Carsten Spohr described the agreement as a milestone for bilateral aviation relations.

“Today’s agreement with our long-standing Star Alliance partner Air India is a strong signal of our mutual determination to open a new chapter in aviation between the EU and India. Together, we will strengthen our access to the aviation market with the highest growth rates worldwide.”

Campbell Wilson emphasised the benefits for travellers and businesses.

“This milestone in our deepening relationship with the Lufthansa Group is great news for travellers and enterprises alike between India and Europe. The framework enables us to explore closer cooperation to meet the growing trade and travel demand between our regions.”

Free trade framework supports expansion

The agreement builds on the recently concluded free trade arrangement between India and the European Union. The EU represents India’s largest trading partner for goods, with bilateral trade volumes currently reaching approximately €180 billion annually.

Both partners see the evolving economic relationship as a catalyst for increased passenger and business travel flows.

Extensive existing network forms foundation

The Lufthansa Group and Air India already cooperate across a broad codeshare network. Currently, joint services span 146 routes across 22 countries, linking 15 Indian and 27 European destinations.

Lufthansa operates multiple connections from Frankfurt and Munich to major Indian cities, while SWISS and ITA Airways complement the network from Zurich and Rome. Air India contributes long-haul services connecting Delhi and Mumbai with key European hubs.

Step-by-step expansion planned

The Memorandum of Understanding initially focuses on jointly expanding and marketing flight offerings between the Lufthansa Group’s core European markets and India. A subsequent phase may extend the cooperation to additional EU countries and the wider Indian subcontinent.

The final scope of the Joint Business Agreement remains subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals.

Customer experience at centre of cooperation

Beyond network expansion, both groups plan closer alignment of schedules, improved transfer flows and enhanced integration of frequent flyer programmes. Sales and marketing activities will also be coordinated more closely.

The Lufthansa Group points to its ongoing fleet modernisation and premium product upgrades as additional pillars supporting growth in the Indian market.

With more than six decades of operational presence in India, Lufthansa continues to position the country as a central component of its long-haul strategy.