Air India and Virgin Australia today announced a new codeshare agreement that significantly strengthens connectivity and facilitates travel between India and Australia. The unilateral agreement allows Air India to place its “AI” code on Virgin Australia-operated flights. This will provide the Indian carrier’s passengers with more connectivity options, allowing them to travel seamlessly from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney and onward on Virgin Australia flights to 16 destinations in Australia and New Zealand. The expanded cooperation will also ensure that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have checked bags for the entire journey.

The 16 cities included in the destination network are: Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand), Sunshine Coast and Sydney.

Air India currently operates 14 weekly direct flights from India to Australia, offering daily direct flights from Delhi to Melbourne and Delhi to Sydney. The airline operates the Boeing -787 Dreamliner on these routes, featuring 18 fully flat-beds in Business Class and 238 comfortable Economy Class seats. Air India customers onward on Virgin Australia flights within Australia and New Zealand will enjoy world-class Business and Economy Class cabins and award-winning service. The first codeshare flight is scheduled for tomorrow, on February 18, 2025.