Air India and Virgin Australia have inked a new codeshare agreement that will enhance connectivity and convenience for those travelling between India and Australia.

Through this unilateral partnership, Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on Virgin Australia-operated flights, enabling seamless travel from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney with onward connections to 16 cities across Australia and New Zealand.

The new collaboration provides Air India customers with smoother travel options, allowing them to easily connect to destinations across Australia and New Zealand. Passengers will also benefit from checked-through baggage for the entirety of their journey, thanks to the integrated service.

The full list of connected cities includes: 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, Virgin Australia’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, said the new deal would make Australia more accessible for Indian travellers.

“India is a growing tourism market for Australia and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network,” he said.

For Air India, the deal further strengthens its presence in the Australian market. Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Nipun Agarwal highlighted the importance of the Australian market for the airline.

“Australia is one of Air India’s most important international markets, so it is incredibly exciting for us to be partnering with Virgin Australia to expand our presence in the region,” he said. “While the partnership provides greater ease and access for the large Indian diaspora spread across the continent, it also opens up a whole new range of destinations for holidaymakers wanting to soak up the beaches of Gold Coast, discover Tasmania, or to explore the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef.”

Codeshare bookings will be available for booking from 11 February 2025, with the first codeshare flights operating on 18 February 2025.