08 Jan 2026
#1 January 2026: India Aviation Newsletter
Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic
Air India announced a new unilateral codeshare partnership with airBaltic, building on the interline agreement between the two carriers established in June 2025. Under the codeshare arrangement, Air India has begun placing its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways, including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. The partnership allows Air India customers to travel to Riga on a single ticket via these hubs and extends access to Tallinn and Vilnius through the existing interline framework. Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal said the partnership improves connectivity to the Baltic region, which is emerging as a growing travel market for Indian travellers.
FLY91 Leases Two ATR 72-600 Aircraft from DAE
FLY91 announced it has leased two ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), with deliveries scheduled later this month. The aircraft will support capacity expansion, increased frequencies on existing routes, and the launch of new services to Hubballi, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Nanded, and Dabolim. FLY91 CEO and Managing Director Manoj Chacko said the transaction aligns with the airline’s measured growth strategy, highlighting the ATR 72-600’s suitability for regional connectivity and the importance of maintaining capital efficiency through partnerships with established lessors.
IndiGo Commences Operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport
IndiGo commenced operations from the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on 25 December, initially launching services across 13 routes. The airline stated that NMIA will serve as a strategic complement to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, enabling improved connectivity and capacity deployment across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra said the move expands travel options for passengers and supports the development of NMIA as a key aviation gateway connecting Mumbai to major domestic destinations.
Acumen’s Take
On Air India’s Expanded Baltic Connectivity
The airBaltic codeshare reflects Air India’s continued focus on strengthening secondary European connectivity without deploying additional widebody capacity. Leveraging strong regional partners allows Air India to broaden its network reach while maintaining cost discipline.
On FLY91’s ATR Fleet Expansion
FLY91’s ATR lease underscores sustained demand for turboprops in India’s regional aviation market. With infrastructure constraints still present across smaller airports, ATR aircraft remain well positioned to support point-to-point regional growth.
On IndiGo’s Entry into Navi Mumbai
IndiGo’s early move into NMIA signals confidence in India’s dual-airport strategy for Mumbai. Establishing a presence from day one provides network advantage and positions the airline to shape traffic flows as the new airport scales up.
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