22 Jan 2026
#3 January 2026: India Aviation Newsletter
Air India and Saudia Sign Codeshare Agreement
Air India and Saudia have signed a codeshare agreement, effective February 2026, aimed at enhancing connectivity and travel options for passengers. Air India guests flying to Jeddah or Riyadh will have seamless onward connections on Saudia-operated flights to Dammam, Abha, Gassim, Gizan, Madinah, and Taif. Saudia’s customers gain access to major Indian cities via Mumbai and Delhi, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, and Jaipur. CEO & MD Campbell Wilson noted that the partnership strengthens access to Saudi Arabia for Indian travellers while supporting tourism and business connectivity.
Akasa Air Introduces Apple Pay for International Travellers
Akasa Air has launched Apple Pay as a payment option on its website and mobile app, becoming the first Indian carrier to enable Apple Pay for cross-border flight bookings. The integration, facilitated through Razorpay, allows international travellers to complete bookings seamlessly and securely. Chief Marketing Officer Naarayan T V stated that the move reinforces Akasa’s digital-first strategy and commitment to customer-centric, frictionless experiences across all touchpoints.
IndiGo and Nobero Announce Partnership
IndiGo has partnered with Nobero, the traveller lifestyle brand from TMRW, under the IndiGo BluChip loyalty program. The three-year partnership, effective immediately, allows passengers to unlock additional value across lifestyle shopping and travel benefits. Chief Digital and Information Officer Neetan Chopra highlighted that the collaboration enriches the customer experience by offering easy-to-redeem rewards that complement IndiGo’s loyalty program.
Acumen’s Take
On Air India–Saudia Codeshare
The agreement strengthens Air India’s Middle East network, offering passengers seamless connectivity and improved access to both regional and international destinations. Codeshares like this also help carriers optimise fleet utilisation while meeting growing passenger demand.
On Akasa Air’s Apple Pay Integration
Enabling Apple Pay for international bookings positions Akasa Air as a digitally forward airline. This move improves the booking experience, increases customer confidence in cross-border payments, and supports the airline’s growing global footprint.
On IndiGo–Nobero Partnership
The partnership integrates lifestyle benefits into IndiGo’s loyalty program, increasing engagement and passenger retention. Collaborations like this illustrate how airlines can enhance value beyond core travel services, creating differentiated offerings in competitive markets.
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