Air India, Singapore sign commercial cooperation framework to deepen existing partnership

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) Air India on Friday said it has signed a commercial cooperation framework agreement with Singapore Airlines as part of which the carriers will, among other things, explore ways to improve connectivity between Singapore and India.

Singapore Airlines holds a 25.1 per cent stake in the Tata Group-backed airline.

This strengthened collaboration allows the airlines to explore ways to improve connectivity between Singapore and India, delivering greater choice and benefits for customers, a statement said.

The agreement was signed here between Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson, and SIA Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong on Friday, it said.

Subject to regulatory approvals and the signing of definitive joint business agreements, the airlines aim to expand and enhance the product and service offerings, enabling seamless connections and more route options, and allowing customers to book flights across both airlines under a single unified journey, Air India said.

This partnership also envisages a closer coordination of flight schedules between Air India and SIA to improve convenience for customers, it added.

"Air India remains committed to expanding its global footprint, both by adding new aircraft to our own fleet and by forging stronger commercial partnerships, especially with our fellow Star Alliance member carriers.

"We are taking this long-term relationship with Singapore Airlines to the next level through this new commercial cooperation understanding, which establishes a clear and structured platform for both airlines to explore and define future areas of closer collaboration," Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said.

The pact could also expand to include greater cross-participation in the airlines' corporate travel programmes to improve offerings to business travellers, Air India said.

The airlines will explore plans to progressively enhance privileges beyond the current Star Alliance benefits for members of Air India's Maharaja Club and SIA's KrisFlyer frequent flyer programmes, it said.

Air India said, along with SIA, it also plans to explore opportunities to broaden the scope of their cooperation in select markets, beyond Singapore and India, subject to regulatory approvals.

"This would meet the growing demand for global connectivity, support traffic flow through both carriers' hubs, and strengthen the air travel markets of both India and Singapore," it said.

At present, the two airlines codeshare on 61 points in 20 countries and territories. This follows the October 2024 expansion of their codeshare partnership, which added 51 international and domestic destinations across both networks.

"This agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India is... a strategic, win-win collaboration that will strengthen connectivity between Singapore and India, support the growth of air travel and tourism in both countries, and deepen their long-standing business and people-to-people ties," Goh Choon Phong said. PTI IAS TRB TRB