Campbell Wilson, Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, disclosed that numerous airlines are expressing interest in forming partnerships with the carrier, recognizing the advantages of connecting with the airline that dominates the source traffic. Speaking at the 67th Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, Wilson highlighted the current inadequacy in serving the 37 million-strong diaspora but emphasized plans for positive change.
Air India, with direct international flights to 38 destinations spanning the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and more, has witnessed a 21% increase in international departures this year. The airline, now privately owned by the Tata Group following the government-led strategic divestment, aims to reclaim the direct business lost to foreign carriers during its 67 years of state-run operations.
Wilson stated, “Other airlines got so strong because Air India and Indian Airlines were weak. So, by providing a non-stop, quality, affordable, reliable, trustworthy, and non-stop safe service from India to key population centres pretty much anywhere in the world, we are pretty confident that we can drag a lot of that connecting business back to non-stop business.”
Indian airlines, recognizing the growth potential in the rapidly emerging market, are expanding codeshare partnerships. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is aggressively extending its international reach and forming codeshare partnerships with global carriers for flights to Australia, the US, and Europe.
Air India has existing codeshare agreements with airlines such as LOT Polish, Egypt Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and many others. Recently, the airline signed an interline arrangement with Alaska Airlines, facilitating seamless connections for Air India customers from various gateways in the USA and Canada.
For the April-June period, Air India and Air India Express held a market share of 20.3% in overall international traffic to and from India, while IndiGo claimed a 17.2% stake. The airline is also undergoing a significant merger with Vistara and is focused on enhancing its product and travel experience.
Wilson highlighted ongoing efforts to recruit new crew, improve training regimes, enhance catering services, and provide a consistent proposition for passengers. While acknowledging the progress made, he emphasized that there is always more work to be done.
