IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic partner to connect India with Europe and North America

DELHI: IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic on Sunday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to build an industry-leading partnership connecting India with Europe and North America.

The collaboration centres on India's rapidly expanding aviation sector. The partnership will combine IndiGo's domestic network with Delta's North American presence, Air France-KLM's European coverage, and Virgin Atlantic's UK operations. The alliance aims to enhance travel accessibility across multiple continents whilst delivering consistent service standards."The partnership if poised to offer travelers broader access, smoother journeys and a more consistent experience across continents," said the airlines in a joint press statement.

Linking dozens of cities in the US, Canada, Europe and India, the airlines aim to meet the rising demand for international travel while setting new standards for connectivity and cooperation in global aviation," it said.Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: "IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation.

This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner.

We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners' networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value.

It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery."Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: "This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe.

We look forward to restarting Delta's direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future."Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: "We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country's connectivity."Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: "In our 25th year of flying to India, we're delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we'll connect four of the world's largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits.

"Since 2022, IndiGo has maintained partnerships with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, providing their customers access to over 30 Indian destinations. IndiGo's European service expansion facilitates new cooperation with Delta, enabling connections to extensive transatlantic routes. KLM's new Amsterdam-Hyderabad route, launching September 2025, will strengthen the partnership further. Air France-KLM will offer connections to 24 destinations beyond Hyderabad through IndiGo's network.

IndiGo plans to expand its fleet with six B787 aircraft and has ordered 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with 70 additional options. Delta intends to resume Atlanta-Delhi services, pending governmental approval.The partnership agreement establishes foundations for extensive cooperation in commercial activities, including network planning, loyalty programmes, cargo operations and sales. It also explores non-commercial collaboration in maintenance, sustainability, training and ground handling, whilst emphasising technological integration for enhanced customer service.