Air India, Asiana Airways Enter Into Code-Share Agreement

Air India, top pick among travellers looking for flights to India, has signed a code-share agreement with South Korea’s Asiana Airways. This is done to facilitate a direct link with Seoul, says media reports.

Air India has inked a code-share agreement with South Korea’s major airline Asiana Airways in an attempt to offer direct connection with Seoul. The code share will be implemented soon.

“As per the agreement, which would be finalised for implementation at the earliest, both Air India and Asiana Airways would share code on the flights operated by each other on the India-South Korea (Seoul) and vice-versa sectors, on a free flow basis,” an Air India official was quoted in different Indian media reports.

The necessary testing system for such code-share cooperation is likely to begin at an early date, he further said.

Air India, country’s national carrier as well as a top choice among those looking for outbound and inbound flights to India, is also likely to enter into similar code-share arrangements with Air China and Egypt Air. This could happen in the near future, said the airline official.

Presently, the Indian carrier has code share agreements with Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Air Mauritius, Austrian Airlines, South African Airways, Aeroflot, Sri Lankan Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, British Midland and Turkish Airlines.

As far as Asiana Airways is concerned, Air India intends to spread out the code-share arrangement to freely include additional sectors on each other’s network. This, of course, is based on connectivity requirements and permissions from the regulatory authorities.

The reports suggest that Asiana Airways too is looking to fly to more destinations in India, provided the airline has the necessary approvals. India is a popular holiday destination and an emerging business hub, something that is reflected in the soaring demand for tickets on cheap flights to India.

Both Air India and Asiana Airways are also getting ready to integrate their Frequent Flyer Programmes (FFP) for mutual benefit to let a passenger flying with Asiana to earn air miles on his Air India FFP and vice-versa. The move is surely going to benefit travel buffs as they can redeem their miles for a range of perks like cheap flights and upgrades with either airline.