Etihad is increasing its flights to twice daily to Air Europa’s hub in Madrid from summer 2025, providing seamless access between Abu Dhabi and Spain. The partnership would further strengthen connectivity between Europe and Latin America, and the Middle East and Asia, creating seamless travel options across these key regions. 

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial of Etihad Airways, said: “We are in discussions to establish a strategic partnership covering a range of activities, including deepening our codeshare and frequent flyer programme, enabling both airlines to expand into new frontiers, and a potential wet lease operation with an Air Europa aircraft between Madrid and Abu Dhabi. 

“Any partnership will work towards benefiting customers of both airlines, underscoring our commitment to providing our valued customers with a seamless travel experience and access to a wider network, including Air Europa’s leading Latin America Network.”

‘We are very pleased to expand our partnership with Etihad Airways into a scenario that will be even more rewarding for our customers. By initiating our operations between Madrid-Barajas and Abu Dhabi, it will further extend our reach to the Middle East and Asia, opening up more possibilities to connect both regions to the Americas via Europe, while offering the highest standards of quality,’ said Richard Clark, Air Europa’s General Manager.

Etihad and Air Europa already have a partnership that includes bilateral codesharing and allows members of their frequent flyer programmes to earn and redeem miles on each other’s flights. The enhanced collaboration would further solidify Air Europa’s footprint in the Middle East and Asia, leveraging Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub to unlock greater connectivity for its customers.

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The expanded partnership significantly boosts flight options and connectivity for travellers between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe with the addition of close to 60 codeshare routes operated by the four airlines across 12 Indian and 26 European cities. 

The expanded agreements increase the total number of codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa and SWISS from 55 to nearly 100. Additionally, the new agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines adds 26 codeshare routes. This provides greater choice, convenience, and seamless experiences to travellers from both regions.

AI will now offer its customers a total of 26 destinations across Europe and 3 destinations in the Americas beyond its gateways in Europe (Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich), with the ‘AI’ designator code placed on the following services operated by airlines in the Lufthansa Group, including Austrian Airlines for the first time:

Lufthansa
Between Frankfurt and: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Nuremberg, Oslo, Prague, Riga, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Valencia, – Washington D.C.

SWISS
Between Zurich and: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia. 

Austrian Airlines
Between Vienna and: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.

Reciprocally, customers of Lufthansa Group will now be able to connect to AI’s domestic services to or from 15 points within India, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa Mopa, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Additionally, Lufthansa Group carriers will add their respective designator codes to AI’s international services to 3 destinations from Delhi and Mumbai: Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney. 

Additionally, flights currently operated by Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers between India and Germany or Switzerland will be covered under the expanded codeshare partnership. For example, customers who wish to fly between Delhi and Frankfurt will now have three daily flight options each way with ‘LH’ flight numbers, including two flights operated by Air India and one flight operated by Lufthansa. 

Both airlines plan to progressively include other destinations in their network to the codeshare arrangements. 

Air India and the three Lufthansa Group carriers are members of Star Alliance. Frequent flyers will continue to earn and redeem points/miles on all four airlines, while elite status holders of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programmes will benefit from Star Alliance Gold benefits including priority services, extra baggage allowance, and airport lounge access across the world. 

“Our goal is to enable our customers to travel from any corner of the world to another via Air India and its partner airlines. The expansion of our partnership with Lufthansa Group is a step in that direction, and we are pleased to take this long-standing relationship to the next level,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India.  

“With this renewed partnership, our customers will have access to more destinations and greater flexibility to travel across Europe on Lufthansa Group carriers. It also gives us the opportunity to serve Lufthansa Group customers, with warmth and quintessential Indian hospitality, aboard Air India flights. We look forward to continue working closely with our Star Alliance partners in making the world feel like a smaller place,” Nipun Aggarwal added. 

“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Air India and elevate the travel experience for our joint customers. By further enhancing our cooperation, we will increase the travel options between Europe and India and offer our passengers improved access to additional destinations. Lufthansa Group remains committed to India, and we are excited about the possibilities and potential the country and Air India as a partner have to offer”, according to Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufthansa Group.

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Globally, air freight represents an annual volume of around 5 billion tons of goods—loaded and unloaded—with a total value of around 340 billion euros.

In Germany as well, air cargo makes a significant contribution to strengthening the economy and is considered an important backbone of the German export industry. Accordingly, the international airline association BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany) has been involved in this field for many years.

In its specialised BARIG Air Cargo Committee, important strategic and political topics are coordinated, for example in the fields of digitalisation and process optimisation. In order to work even more intensively and efficiently, the leadership of this committee has been further developed. With Jorge Carretero, Sales Director Central Europe at LATAM Cargo, and Thilo Schäfer, Director Cargo at Condor, two airline and air cargo experts with many years of international experience now act as co-chairmen.

“Although air freight volumes in Germany are almost at 2019 levels, there is still significant potential for growth to be utilized, particularly in the interests of the economy,” states Michael Hoppe, BARIG Chairman and Executive Director. “I am delighted that with Jorge Carretero and Thilo Schäfer we have two experienced airline and logistics professionals in the lead of our Air Cargo Committee.”

The Air Cargo Committee consists of the BARIG member airlines’ cargo managers. These include more than 30 airlines with their own designated freight divisions as well as around 100 passenger airlines that transport air freight on the lower deck.

“Germany continues to be a central hub for global air freight within the EU. However, this position should not be taken for granted as it is also under increasing pressure. This makes it all the more important to actively further develop the framework conditions in Germany and to sustainably strengthen its competitiveness in the European market,” Thilo Schäfer emphasizes. “I look forward to driving forward future-oriented topics such as automation, digitalization, and the optimization of processes together with the BARIG Air Cargo Committee.”

“Logistics and air freight in Germany are currently being confronted with many issues and challenges that will determine future developments,” Jorge Carretero points out. “In order to create the best possible processes and framework conditions, we develop innovative and practicable solutions in the committee with the expertise of our international community. Our aim is to ensure an efficient, modern, and competitive air cargo infrastructure for Germany.”

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This milestone marks a pivotal step in MAG’s fleet modernisation strategy as it strengthens its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and providing passengers with an elevated level of comfort and service.

The aircraft, registered as 9M-MNG, was officially launched by Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport Malaysia, together with Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, MAG’s main shareholder; and Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of MAG. The aircraft will embark on its maiden flight to Melbourne via flight MH149 later this evening at 10:30pm local time and will gradually service long-haul routes across Australasia, among others.

YB Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport Malaysia said, “The launch of MAG’s first Airbus A330neo is not simply the introduction of a new aircraft; it is the culmination of resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in the power of progress.

It reflects MAG’s determination to lead in a competitive industry, our nation’s commitment to sustainability, and the extraordinary potential of Malaysian talent.”

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said, “The debut of our first A330neo marks a transformative moment for MAG as we modernise our fleet and set a new era of air travel where innovation, comfort, and sustainability come together seamlessly. This commitment underscores our dedication to placing our passengers at the heart of everything we do, delivering an exceptional and unforgettable journey that embodies the warmth and care of Malaysian Hospitality.”

The A330neo is the latest aircraft to join MAG’s growing fleet, with a total of 20 to be delivered by 2028 following its Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Avolon in August 2022. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo features the latest innovations in aerodynamics, advanced materials, delivering a 14% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.

MAG’s A330neo aircraft comprises 297 seats (28 in Business Class and 269 in Economy Class, of which 24 seats come with extra legroom). With a 1-2-1 herringbone configuration, the newly designed Collins Aerospace Elevation Business Class seats will be a first for the Group, featuring an all-suite cabin with individual privacy doors which prioritises cabin comfort and practicality.

The new A330neo aircraft is set to elevate the travel experience with a host of advanced features, including the industry–leading FlightPath3D moving map system — the most interactive across all

MAG fleet – offering real-time tracking and detailed journey insights, enhancing the way passengers explore the skies. In keeping with the airline’s family-friendly approach, the aircraft’s in-flight entertainment system will also come with ‘Kids Mode’, providing a seamless interface in keeping them entertained throughout their journey.

Passengers can also enjoy a comprehensive destination guide that highlights the culture and history of the destinations served by the aircraft. Additionally, the aircraft will come with high-speed connectivity, allowing all passengers, regardless of cabin class or loyalty tier, to enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi onboard. In addition, Business Class passengers can also indulge in the SkySnacks offering, a self- service concept featuring a curated selection of light snacks to munch at any time.

At the same event, Malaysia Airlines unveiled an exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz as its private terminal transfer service provider starting January 2025. Eligible passengers will enjoy travelling in premium comfort and will be chauffeured in style in the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4MATIC and Mercedes-Benz S 580 e plug-in hybrid – that deliver quiet, dynamic and luxurious experience, making them the perfect choice for this exclusive service, where sustainability and sophistication converge seamlessly. The airline is the only carrier to introduce this private transfer service in KLIA Terminal 1 between the Main Terminal Building and Satellite Building as part of its commitment to elevating the passenger experience.

MAG currently operates a fleet of 107 aircraft across its subsidiaries, including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MAS wings and MASkargo. Looking ahead, the Group plans to expand its fleet to 62 narrowbody and 52 widebody aircraft by 2033. Its fifth Boeing 737-8 aircraft was delivered mid-December, with the remaining 20 expected between 2025-2026.

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This twice-daily service is the first deployment of the ‘new Air India’ experience on long-haul flights and represents a significant milestone in the airline’s transformation program.

The Air India A350 cabin product includes a fresh three-class configuration offering full-flat beds in Business, a new Premium Economy experience and the latest generation seats in Economy.  All guests enjoy the latest-generation inflight entertainment system offering more than 3000 hours of entertainment content, which will shortly be complemented by on board Wi-Fi*.

Guests in Business and Premium Economy will also enjoy updated amenity kits exclusively designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, as well as Air India’s new soft product – Vista Verve – with new chinaware, tableware, glassware and bedding. Completing the experience, flight and cabin crew will don, for the first time, their new Manish Malhotra-designed uniforms.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India said, “The deployment of the flagship A350s on the Delhi-London Heathrow route marks a significant milestone for Air India. It demonstrates Air India’s commitment to elevating the travel experience of our guests to truly world-class standards and to going beyond just meeting customer expectations as we continue to grow and renew our fleet.”

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The frequent flyer programme agreement was inked by Garuda Indonesia, Chief Executive Officer, Irfan Setiaputra and SIA, CEO, Goh Choon Phong in Jakarta, while the joint venture revenue share agreement was signed by Garuda Indonesia, Director of Service and Commercial, Ade R. Susardi and SIA, Chief Commercial Officer, Lee Lik Hsin.

When launched, the frequent flyer partnership will allow GarudaMiles and KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem miles on codeshare flights operated by both airlines. The revenue sharing agreement, when implemented, will support joint capacity growth, marking a significant step in the plans for a proposed commercial joint venture arrangement that covers Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and Indonesia. 

Both carriers are continuing with joint marketing activities to promote tourism. This potentially includes joint activities to promote tourist traffic to Indonesia, including familiarisation trips for travel trade and media. 

Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have a strong codeshare partnership that has expanded in recent months. Today, Garuda Indonesia codeshares on Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and the Indonesian cities of Bali, Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya, as well as long-haul routes between Singapore and Johannesburg, London (Heathrow), and Mumbai. SIA codeshares on Garuda Indonesia flights between Singapore and Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya.

Irfan Setiaputra, President and CEO of Garuda Indonesia said that this partnership is part of Garuda Indonesia’s efforts to improve the Company’s performance through a strategic commercial partnership, especially in providing added value to customers. “Having the same mission in optimising the potential of the aviation business ecosystem in South East Asia after the pandemic, this initiative is certainly an important manifestation of both airlines’ commitment to continue strengthening our well-established cooperation,” Irfan explained. 

He added: “This partnership is a special moment for us, which also marks the 58 years of Garuda Indonesia’s journey in connecting Indonesia and Singapore. In the future, we hope that this partnership will continue to enhance social, cultural, and tourism relations between Indonesia and Singapore whilst offering seamless access for customers to enjoy various destinations served by both airlines.”

“We hope that the expansion of this partnership will bring added value for Singapore and Indonesia, which are served by both airlines. Furthermore, this collaboration is also expected to not only provide added value for both airlines’ customers, especially through the ease of earning and redeeming miles for tickets and other exclusive benefits, but the hope is that it will strengthen Garuda Indonesia’s support for national tourism by providing more access to points in Indonesia for foreign tourists who will visit Indonesia via Singapore in the future,” Irfan said.

Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines said, “Our win-win partnership with Garuda Indonesia will improve the connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore for our customers. This will help to meet the increasing demand for air travel between the two countries and beyond, as well as facilitate the growth of tourism and economic activities. Furthermore, by deepening the synergies between our frequent flyer programmes, we can enhance the benefits for our loyal customers, offering them more opportunities to earn and redeem miles when travelling with both airlines.”

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The order will help expand IndiGo’s international network to long-haul destinations.

India, the world’s fastest growing major aviation market, is on the verge of an international travel boom as the economy grows and household incomes rise. The A350 is perfectly positioned to serve the country’s aspirations for long-range travel. The choice of the A350 is a reaffirmation of IndiGo’s continued trust in Airbus and is yet another validation of the aircraft as the undisputed leader in long-haul air travel.

“Today’s historic moment marks a new chapter for IndiGo and will further shape the future of the airline and for Indian aviation at the same time. For IndiGo, after successfully pioneering the Indian skies with an unprecedented journey, its fleet of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players. At IndiGo, we take pride in being India’s preferred airline and for offering connectivity to our customers, in and with India. This reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in, and commitment to, the growth of India, and in our strategic partnership with Airbus,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo.

“A heartfelt thank you to IndiGo Airlines for putting its trust in Airbus once again, and to our respective teams who negotiated this agreement for 30 A350s. IndiGo’s first widebody order opens an exciting new chapter in our close partnership. We are proud that our fuel-efficient, next-generation A320 Family revolutionised domestic air travel in India, and that now the A350 is poised to replicate the same success on long-haul routes,” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft.

Bound in a relationship of symbiotic growth with India for more than half a century, Airbus products and services have catalysed the growth of the country’s civil aviation sector. While the Airbus A320 Family is supporting the democratisation of air travel in India, the A350 has become the reference aircraft to unlock the true potential of the international market for Indian carriers.

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Operated by flydubai, the flight will arrive from Dubai International (DXB) on Thursday, 18 April, marking the start of a new twice-weekly route to The Red Sea destination. A regular schedule of domestic flights operated by Saudia has been servicing RSI since September 2023. With the launch of flydubai, there will now be eight flights per week to RSI.

“Situated within three hours flying time of 250 million people, RSI will serve one million guests a year at full capacity. Our inaugural flight just six months ago was the start of our journey towards reaching that goal, and this first international flight is a further step in making Saudi Arabia one of the top tourism destinations globally. We are looking forward to truly opening up to the world and welcoming visitors from the UAE, wider Middle East region and beyond,” said John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global.

“RSI is also essential for providing connectivity for our employees, partners, and the wider local community,” added Pagano.

RSI was built to provide an easy route for guests travelling to The Red Sea. Today, two luxury resorts are open at the destination: Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, and St. Regis Red Sea Resort, which recently welcomed legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his family.

Three more resorts are on track to open this year, including Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – one of only seven worldwide – in the coming weeks. This will be followed by Shebara, featuring a remarkable array of overwater, stainless steel villas, and Desert Rock, a spectacular resort nestled between the mountains.

Michael White, Chief Commercial Officer of Red Sea International Airport, said: “The arrival of international travellers represents an exciting next phase in RSI’s development, following our first domestic flights touching down in September last year. We are committed to providing exceptional services to passengers and airlines alike and we look forward to further expanding our network to serve The Red Sea and travellers from around the world.”

Red Sea International Airport is on track to become the first carbon-neutral airport in the Middle East. Innovative sustainability solutions are being implemented across all operations to eliminate and offset carbon emissions, optimize energy consumption, and advance efficiencies in resource and waste management.

These include the use of local materials during the design phase, incorporating elements such as 100% renewable energy for the building to meet minimum LEED Gold Certification standard, and minimizing light pollution to meet the Dark Sky Guidelines.

Another feature of RSI’s innovative design is its terminal set to open in full next year, which is divided into five ‘mini terminals’ that can be operated independently or concurrently depending on demand. This reduces the building’s energy use when compared with a standard centralized terminal approach.

Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) at flydubai, said: “flydubai becomes the first carrier to operate to Red Sea International from the UAE, offering passengers direct access to Saudi Arabia’s resorts at The Red Sea destination. This underscores our commitment to opening up underserved markets and further connecting the regions we operate to via Dubai’s aviation hub.”

Upon full completion in 2030, The Red Sea will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination also includes luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, F&B, and leisure facilities.

The Red Sea destination is powered off-grid with 5 solar farms containing 760,000 panels, and one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities already built and operational.

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The agreement marks a significant milestone in the Indian aviation industry. Air India (along with other Tata Group airlines – AIX and Vistara) and BIAL will collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency, and passenger experience over the next five years. 

This includes strengthening the group’s presence at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB or BLR airport) through an enhanced network and establishing a dedicated domestic lounge for premium and frequent travellers of Tata Group airlines Air India and Vistara.

As part of this initiative, Air India has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at BLR airport. This underscores Air India’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Bengaluru and over time, expand its global footprint to meet the growing demand for direct long-haul routes originating from Southern India. This partnership will stimulate the MRO ecosystem and is projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state.

Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India said, “Airline-airport synergy is key to elevated customer experience and efficient operations, while Bengaluru is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub. We are therefore delighted to be strengthening our relationship with BIAL with a view to developing a greater presence at the airport, expanding air connectivity as well as building a major MRO center. This partnership agreement is a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Air India.”

Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited, said, “As the busiest airport in South India, BLR Airport is dedicated to strengthening its position as the primary international gateway in Southern and Central India. This collaboration aligns perfectly with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s vision of developing Indian airports as hubs, reflecting our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. Given that over half of the international outbound travellers from Bengaluru and our catchment head to Europe, North America, Australia, and the Far East, our alliance with Air India represents a substantial leap towards this goal. We aim to capture a significant share of long-haul routes from BLR Airport over the next five years.”

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Under the contract, worth approximately USD100m, MASPL will supply close to 2,300 varieties of metallic components to Airbus Atlantic in France from its manufacturing base in India. The contract adds to existing MASPL programs to deliver parts directly to Airbus at their facilities in France and Germany. 

Speaking from the customer perspective, Airbus Atlantic Chief Procurement Officer José-Maria Trujillano said, “We are delighted to develop our relationship with Mahindra Aerostructures and to benefit from their robustness, their expertise and high-end technology capabilities in order to strengthen our supply base and, doing so, to contribute to securing production ramp-up for all our programs.”

Speaking about the deal, Vinod Sahay, President Aerospace and Défense Mahindra Group, said, “This new contract from Airbus Atlantic opens a new frontier in our existing relationship with the Airbus Group, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer value across the realm of industrial maturity, digitalization, performance and sustainability” 

MASPL has been a direct supplier to Airbus Group since 2015, and partners with Airbus on numerous initiatives. It has been ranked as a D2P “Challenger” for three years in the Sheet Metal Parts domain, as well as level “A” in the Airbus Industrial Process Capability Assessment (IPCA+) and has won “Best Performer” award in the 2023 Airbus Supplier Quality Improvement Program (SQIP) awards.

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