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.
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.
