02 Oct 2025
#1 October 2025: India Aviation Newsletter
Air India and Zomato Join Hands to Redefine Travel and Food Loyalty
Air India and Zomato have announced a strategic partnership aimed at merging the domains of travel and food loyalty. This collaboration integrates Air India’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme with Zomato’s food delivery ecosystem, offering members exclusive cross-platform benefits. Effective immediately, users can enjoy a combined value proposition that blends seamless travel experiences with food rewards.
Sunil Suresh, Head of Marketing, Loyalty & E-commerce at Air India, stated, “This partnership is in line with our continuing efforts to strengthen the value proposition of Maharaja Club and our vision of building it into one of the most rewarding loyalty programmes across industries.”
Akasa Air Partners with OpenAirlines to Optimise Flight Fuel Efficiency
Akasa Air has partnered with OpenAirlines to deploy SkyBreathe®, an analytics-powered solution designed to enhance flight fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. As part of its broader sustainability efforts, the airline aims to identify actionable opportunities for reducing fuel burn through data-led insights.
Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and COO of Akasa Air, commented, “By leveraging SkyBreathe®’s advanced analytics, Akasa will have access to deeper insights into our operations and unlock meaningful opportunities to optimise fuel use and emissions.”
BLR Airport Introduces ‘Pulse Rewards’ Loyalty Programme
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has launched Pulse Rewards, a comprehensive loyalty programme that allows passengers to earn and redeem points across retail, F&B, duty-free, lounges, and the BLR Pulse app.
Kenneth Guldbjerg, CCO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), remarked, “With Pulse Rewards, we don’t just want passengers to pass through; we want them to play, discover, and unlock experiences every time they are at BLR Airport.”
Acumen’s Take
On Air India and Zomato’s Cross-Industry Loyalty Integration
This partnership marks a smart alignment of lifestyle ecosystems—air travel and food delivery—under a unified loyalty experience. It leverages Zomato’s high-frequency user base to deepen customer stickiness for Air India’s Maharaja Club. As loyalty programmes evolve into holistic lifestyle platforms, such cross-sector collaborations are likely to grow.
On Akasa’s Fuel Efficiency Partnership
Akasa Air’s integration of SkyBreathe® underscores its proactive stance on operational sustainability. As global regulatory pressures around carbon emissions intensify, such investments in fuel analytics will become a competitive differentiator. This also enhances Akasa’s positioning as a modern, environmentally conscious airline in a fast-growing market.
On BLR Airport’s Pulse Rewards Launch
BLR’s Pulse Rewards reflects a wider industry shift toward airport commercialisation through digital engagement. By incentivising spend and interaction across airport services, the programme aims to increase per-passenger revenue while elevating passenger experience. Loyalty, in this context, becomes a tool for both stickiness and data-led personalisation.
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