Singapore Airlines and Air India have signed a
"commercial cooperation framework" agreement as a path forward toward
a joint venture, the airlines announced Friday.
The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and the
signing of "definitive joint business agreements." The carriers aim
to expand and enhance their product and service offerings—including broadening
the scope of their cooperation in select markets beyond Singapore and
India—enabling seamless connections and more route options, which will enable
customers to book flights across both airlines under a single unified ticket.
The carriers' plans include closer coordination of flight
schedules between the airlines and also could "expand to include greater
cross-participation in the airlines' corporate travel programs," according
to the airlines. The carriers also are exploring ways to provide perks beyond
the current Star Alliance benefits for members of Air India's Maharaja Club and
Singapore's KrisFlyer loyalty programs.
Singapore and Air India currently codeshare on 61 points in
20 countries and territories, following the October
2024 expansion of their codeshare partnership, which added 51 international
and domestic destinations across each network, according to the carriers.