Air India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lufthansa Group to set up a framework for a joint business agreement aimed at expanding connectivity between India and Europe. The agreement, announced on February 17, 2026, will cover Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers and subsidiaries, including Air India Express, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines. The agreement seeks to offer passengers more seamless travel options across key routes through coordinated planning and commercial cooperation.The proposed partnership builds on existing codeshare arrangements and the airlines’ shared membership in Star Alliance. It will explore coordinated route planning and flight schedules in specific markets, along with joint sales, marketing and distribution initiatives. The airlines also plan to work together on frequent flyer programmes, IT infrastructure, customer journey and quality assurance, subject to regulatory and anti-trust approvals.Focus on India–Europe trafficThe MoU initially targets passenger traffic between India and Lufthansa Group’s core European markets of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. The scope may later expand to include the rest of Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The final structure, including specific routes and markets, will be decided after regulatory clearances.“Today's agreement with our long-standing Star Alliance partner Air India is a strong signal of our mutual determination to open a new chapter in aviation between the EU and India following the landmark trade agreement between both economic regions. Together with Air India, we will strengthen our access to the aviation market with the highest growth rates worldwide," said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Chief Executive Officer of the Lufthansa Group."The Lufthansa Group is already the most successful and most popular European airline group among customers in India. In the future, we will contribute to deepening economic and cultural relations between India and Europe with even more connections. With our new long-haul aircraft and Lufthansa Allegris and SWISS Senses on board, we are offering a significantly improved premium travel experience in all classes on more and more routes, including to India," the Chairman added.“This milestone in our deepening relationship with the Lufthansa Group is great news for travellers and enterprises alike between India and Europe. As Air India continues to expand its global footprint with a fast-modernising fleet and transformed product and service offerings, this framework enables us to explore closer cooperation on multiple fronts to meet the growing trade, commerce, and people-to-people ties between our respective regions. This would unlock greater value for our common customers and respective shareholders, and we look forward to progressing these initiatives together with the Lufthansa Group,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.Read more at:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/air-india-lufthansa-group-sign-agreement-to-expand-indiaeurope-connectivity/articleshow/128463999.cms (ICE MUMBAI)

Fonte notizia: The Economic Times