Air India and Virgin Australia Launch New Codeshare Partnership to Enhance Connectivity Between India, Australia, and New Zealand

Air India to operate codeshare flights to 16 cities on the Virgin Australia network in Australia and New Zealand

(IN SHORT) Air India and Virgin Australia have launched a new codeshare partnership, enhancing connectivity between India, Australia, and New Zealand. Starting in February 2025, this collaboration will offer seamless travel options for Air India customers, providing onward connections to 16 destinations across both countries. The agreement also includes benefits like checked-through baggage and world-class service across both airlines’ networks.

(PRESS RELEASE) GURUGRAM, INDIA, 2025-Feb-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Air India and Virgin Australia have announced an exciting new codeshare agreement that will offer enhanced travel connectivity between India and Australia, as well as New Zealand. This partnership provides a seamless travel experience for passengers, expanding their access to 16 destinations across both countries.

Through this unilateral codeshare agreement, Air India will now be able to place its ‘AI’ code on Virgin Australia-operated flights, providing customers flying from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney with convenient onward connections to multiple cities across Australia and New Zealand. This collaboration ensures that passengers traveling on a single ticket will benefit from checked-through baggage, streamlining their entire journey.

The 16 cities included in this expanded network are: Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand), Sunshine Coast, and Sydney.

Alistair Hartley, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Virgin Australia, commented: “We are excited to partner with Air India and offer their customers even more opportunities to explore Australia. With India’s growing tourism market, this partnership will make it easier for travelers arriving on Air India’s flights to explore everything Australia has to offer, with seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network.”

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Air India, expressed similar enthusiasm: “Australia is a key market for Air India, and we are thrilled to partner with Virgin Australia to broaden our reach in the region. This collaboration not only simplifies travel for the large Indian diaspora living in Australia but also opens up a wealth of exciting destinations for Indian tourists seeking to experience the stunning beaches of the Gold Coast, the natural beauty of Tasmania, or the world-famous Great Barrier Reef.”

Air India operates 14 weekly flights from India to Australia, with non-stop daily services between Delhi and both Melbourne and Sydney. The airline utilizes its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for these routes, which are equipped with 18 flat-bed Business Class seats and 238 spacious Economy Class seats. Passengers continuing their journey with Virgin Australia will enjoy world-class service in both Business and Economy Class.

Codeshare bookings will be available starting 11 February 2025, with the first codeshare flights scheduled to depart on 18 February 2025.

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 has placed an order for 570 new aircraft. 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 Virgin Australia
The Virgin Australia Group was founded in the year 2000 by Sir Richard Branson and is now one of the largest Australian airlines operating an extensive domestic network as well as short-haul international services, charter and cargo operations, and its loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer. The Group employs more than 7,800 people and boasts more than 12 million Velocity members who can use their Points to redeem flights to over 600 destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and the airline’s extensive list of international partner carriers.

Media Contacts:

Air India:
Ronit Baugh
ronit.baugh@airindia.com

Virgin Australia Corporate Affairs:
corporateaffairs@virginaustralia.com

Air India Press Office:
Apoorva Bansal
airindia@adfactorspr.com
+91 9873792612

Source: Air India

###

Subscribe to Notifications