06 Jun 2025
#1 June 2025: India Aviation Newsletter
Air India Expands Codeshare Partnership with Air Mauritius
Air India and Air Mauritius have announced the expansion of their existing codeshare agreement, offering enhanced connectivity across the Indian Subcontinent and Africa. The expanded agreement was signed during the 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi by Air India CEO & Managing Director Campbell Wilson and Air Mauritius Chairman Kishore Beegoo. The updated codeshare will see both airlines place their designator codes on 17 routes covering India, Mauritius, Réunion, South Africa, and Madagascar.
Campbell Wilson stated, “India is one of the largest tourism source markets for destinations in Southern Africa, including Mauritius and South Africa, as well as a strong trade partner to the region. This expanded codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius is another step toward widening our extended global network, which enables our customers to easily access these destinations.”
Air India Express Connects Bengaluru and Kathmandu
Air India Express has launched daily direct flights between Bengaluru and Kathmandu, Nepal, effective 1st June. This new route expands the airline’s network to 55 destinations and offers one-stop connectivity to Kathmandu from 20 Indian cities including Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Goa, Gwalior, Hindon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jammu, Jaipur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Mangaluru, Pune, Srinagar, Surat, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada. Additionally, it links Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi and Dammam internationally. Air India Express now operates over 450 weekly flights connecting 31 destinations directly.
Managing Director Aloke Singh commented, “We are delighted to expand our footprint to Nepal, our neighbouring country in the subcontinent, further strengthening the deep-rooted cultural and economic ties we share. This new route brings people, tales, and traditions closer while reinforcing our vision of making travel more accessible and meaningful. It also builds on our recent expansion into short-haul international leisure destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket.”
IndiGo Signs MoU to Double A350-900 Order to 60 Aircraft
IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to convert 30 purchase rights into a firm order, doubling its commitment to 60 A350-900 aircraft. This move signals a bold step in IndiGo’s long-term international expansion strategy. Originally, in April 2024, IndiGo placed a firm order for 30 A350-900s with options for an additional 70. Deliveries from the original order are expected to commence in 2027.
This expanded order reinforces IndiGo’s ambition to become a global player by operating long-haul international routes from Indian metros. The A350s will enable the airline to serve new destinations and expand connectivity to global hubs of partner airlines, enhancing travel options for Indian and international passengers alike.
Acumen’s Take
On Air India–Air Mauritius Codeshare Expansion
This development highlights Air India’s commitment to building a strong global partner network as it pivots toward international growth. The 17-route expansion opens new tourism and trade corridors between India and Africa, and positions Air India as a key connector across the Indian Ocean. Codeshare partnerships like this also allow for rapid international footprint expansion without requiring immediate fleet deployment.
On Air India Express’s Bengaluru–Kathmandu Launch
The daily Bengaluru–Kathmandu service supports Air India Express’s strategy of building a regional international network that leverages tier-1 Indian cities as hubs. The route offers both cultural and commercial relevance, and the extensive one-stop connections from across India further enhance its utility. It also signals the airline’s ambitions beyond Gulf corridors into the broader South Asian neighbourhood.
On IndiGo’s MoU for 60 A350-900s
Doubling its A350 commitment underscores IndiGo’s serious intentions in the long-haul segment. With deliveries starting from 2027, IndiGo is positioning itself to enter direct competition with full-service carriers on global routes. The move will diversify its predominantly narrowbody, regional fleet and lay the foundation for partnerships, interlining, and new customer segments in the years to come.
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