- Air India-Kenya Airways codeshare partnership complements existing interline partnership
- ‘AI’ code on Kenya Airways’ Nairobi-Mumbai service, ‘KQ’ code on Air India’s Delhi-Nairobi service
- One-stop connectivity to passengers from Kenya to Southeast Asia and Australia via Mumbai, and vice versa
(IN SHORT) Air India and Kenya Airways have launched a new codeshare partnership, enhancing connectivity between India, Africa, and other global destinations. This partnership offers passengers convenient access to both airlines’ networks, with seamless travel on a single ticket and unified baggage policies.
(PRESS RELEASE) GURUGRAM / NAIROBI, 2025-Jan-31 — /Travel PR News/ — Air India, India’s premier international carrier, and Kenya Airways, a leading African airline, have announced a new codeshare partnership, further enhancing their collaboration and reinforcing their commitment to offering seamless connectivity between India, Africa, and beyond. This new partnership builds on their existing interline agreement, creating a more integrated travel experience for passengers.
The codeshare agreement allows both airlines to expand their reach, offering travelers more convenient access to an extensive network of destinations. With a single ticket and a unified baggage policy, passengers can enjoy a smoother and hassle-free travel experience.
Under the new codeshare agreement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on Kenya Airways’ twice-daily flights between Nairobi and Mumbai. This will provide passengers traveling from Nairobi with easy connections to several key destinations in Southeast Asia and Australia via Mumbai, including Bangkok (Thailand), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Malé (Maldives), Melbourne (Australia), and Singapore. Additionally, passengers traveling from Nairobi to Delhi on Air India will have access to a wide range of connecting flights within India and abroad.
In return, Kenya Airways will place its ‘KQ’ designator code on Air India-operated flights between Delhi and Nairobi, offering enhanced connectivity for Kenya Airways’ passengers traveling from various points in Africa to Delhi via Nairobi.
“This enhanced partnership with Kenya Airways supports Air India’s strategic goal of strengthening our global presence and reinforcing our position in critical international markets,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India. “Our codeshare agreement provides significant benefits for passengers, while also fostering the growth of air travel between India and Africa.”
Air India and Kenya Airways also continue to offer seamless travel through their interline agreement, which allows passengers to travel on a single itinerary between 28 African destinations (such as Accra, Addis Ababa, Dar Es Salaam, and Johannesburg) and 15 cities in India (including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa, and Kolkata).
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Air India, which will unlock new opportunities for our passengers,” said Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer of Kenya Airways. “This codeshare agreement enables us to provide smoother connections to a wider range of destinations, making travel more convenient for our customers.”
Both airlines plan to progressively add more destinations to the codeshare agreement as part of their ongoing effort to enhance their networks. The codeshare flights can be booked through Air India’s and Kenya Airways’ booking channels or through travel agents.
About Air India group
The Air India group – comprising of full-service global airline Air India and low-cost regional carrier Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents.
Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India placed the then largest-ever order for 470 new aircraft in 2023. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.
With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.
For more stories on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom
About Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways (KQ), The Pride of Africa, is a leading African carrier on a mission to propel Africa’s prosperity by connecting its people, cultures, and markets. We fly to 44 destinations worldwide, 36 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers and over 70,000 Tons of cargo annually through our Hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
As the sole African carrier in the SkyTeam Alliance, we open up a world of possibilities for our customers, connecting them to over 1,060 destinations in 173 countries. We take pride in offering a delightful flying experience with a caring African touch. Our exceptional African hospitality has consistently earned us global recognition including the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards where we were honored with the Best Airline Staff and Best Airline Cabin Crew in Africa in 2024.
For more information, visit www.kenya-airways.com or call our 24-hour Customer Services Desk at +254 20 327 4747.
We are also available on Twitter: @KenyaAirways & @KQSupport, Facebook: @OfficialKenyaAirways, and Instagram: @OfficialKenyaAirways
Media Contacts:
Air India
Ronit Baugh
ronit.baugh@airindia.com
Air India Press Office
Ranjini Majumdar
airindia@adfactorspr.com
Kenya Airways Corporate Communications
Corporate.communications@kenya-airways.com
Source: Air India
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