Emirates Airlines contemplates a potential codeshare alliance with Air India, aiming to expand connectivity and enhance passenger convenience across key destinations. The partnership holds promising prospects for both airlines in the ever-evolving aviation industry.
The aircraft order, premium economy, and transformation agenda for the next 5 years by Air India have already stunned the aviation industry. In addition, the integration of Air Vistara into Air India will increase the airline’s share in the domestic and international markets.
Air India is all set to become a powerful and impeccable force in the global aviation sector. In particular, the airline has a commendable record for nonstop flights, as well as last minute flights category. So most international airlines are keeping their eyes on Air India. Also, several international airlines are planning to consider a codeshare partnership agreement with the Tata Group. Among these airlines, some of the names include Lufthansa and Emirates Airlines. These 2 airlines have already initiated a discussion with Air India in regard to the codeshare partnership.
What Triggered Emirates To Talk With Air India
Undoubtedly, Emirates Airlines is one of the most favored airlines when it comes to family travel along with kids and great inflight meals. Moreover, Emirates has legal rights to fly in India for a maximum of 66000 seats per week under the bilateral agreement between Dubai and India. But Emirates Airlines have been seeking additional 50000 seats to and from India. The airline strives to expand its weekly flight operations to tier 2 cities, such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Goa, Rajkot, Madurai, and Pune. However, the Indian Government has restricted foreign air carriers to direct access beyond the current destinations based on the agreement in India.
As a result, several airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Air France-KLM, and Qantas Airways have to initiate a codeshare partnership agreement with India’s biggest airline IndiGo in terms of domestic market share.
Similarly, Emirates Airlines and United Airlines are planning to initiate a codeshare partnership with Air India, which is currently a full-service premium airline in the country to expand their flight services in India like business class tickets. So far, Emirates has a codeshare partnership agreement with SpiceJet only in India, which is a low-cost Indian air carrier. But there are several reasons the codeshare partnership did not work between Emirates Airlines and SpiceJet.
Considering the current scenarios and stats, Emirates needs an Indian codeshare partner to counter the competition from the codeshare partnership of Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Air France-KLM, and IndiGo. By far, America and Europe feed the demand for cheap flights tickets to India, as well as last minute flights, for the inflow of Indian Diaspora traffic. If Air India Airlines’ fleet upgrades, service improves, and the network expands, the airline will be an unbeatable competitor on the routes that Emirates covers.
Are Emirates & Air India Going To Partner
Well, if Emirates Airlines and United Airlines can become a partner via a codeshare partnership agreement, even though when they were infamous rivals, then Emirates Airlines and Air India can also become a partner to expand the business. Just like Air Canada has been once a rival of Emirates Airlines but now they are also a partner for business purposes.
Air India is a leading airline when it comes to nonstop flights from India to the USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, while Emirates Airlines caters to a world-class inflight experience, especially on one-stop flights to and from India via Dubai. This is a very big market share in the aviation industry so the outcomes are also impressive. Likely some traffic to and from India is missing. Although Indian airlines are raising expectations and hope to expand overseas flights says Mohammad Sarhan (Emirates’ Vice President of India and Nepal).
High Competition Without Codeshare Partnership
Emirates Airlines are discussing the codeshare partnership agreement with Air India. The conversation is at the initial stage among the two airlines. In case, the discussion does not conclude on a positive note, then there are very high chances of elevated competition between both airlines. In fact, the competitive battle for Premium Economy will be a common ground between Air India and Emirates Airlines. Also, Six A350-900s with 28 Premium Economy seats will be inducted into Air India’s fleet at any time this year on each aircraft of the airline. Air India will also start to take delivery of 34 A350-1000s with Premium Economy from 2025.
On the contrary, 120 more aircraft will be added to the Emirates Airlines fleet like A380s Widebody to retrofit with Premium Economy cabins, especially for Mumbai and New Delhi as the first few destinations in 2024.
Also read: United Airlines Introduces New Technology for Family Seating
