IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing connectivity between India, Europe, and North America.
Described as an “industry-leading partnership,” the agreement seeks to capitalise on India’s rapid aviation growth, providing travellers with broader access and a smoother travel experience across continents.
“IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030,” IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said. “This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation.”
He outlined the partnership’s long-term vision, noting it “lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery.”
The collaboration will link dozens of cities across the US, Canada, Europe, and India, addressing growing international demand.
“This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said. “We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the US to India in the near future.”
Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, echoed the sentiment, calling India a “strategic market,” and expressing excitement about expanding ties with the Indian carrer. “We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss emphasised the expanded benefits for travellers. “As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we’ll connect four of the world’s largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimised flight times to loyalty benefits,” he said.
IndiGo has partnered with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic since 2022, offering connections to over 30 Indian cities. New routes and fleet expansion, including the addition of Airbus A350-900s and B787s, will further support long-haul operations and deeper integration with partner airlines.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the carriers also outlines collaboration in cargo, loyalty programs, sustainability, and aircraft maintenance, creating a framework for “advanced collaboration through use of technology to efficiently service joint customers.”
