Aiming to boost connectivity of India with Europe and North America, four leading airline companies – IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a strategic partnership.
The collaboration aims to strengthen connectivity between North America, the U.K., Europe, and India – four major travel and economic regions – by offering travelers wider access, smoother connections, and enhanced travel options across all networks.
“This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence, and innovation,” said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers.
Connecting route networks
IndiGo has maintained partnerships with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic since 2022, allowing passengers to access over 30 Indian destinations. With IndiGo’s recent launch of flights to Europe, a new opportunity has opened for collaboration with Delta Air Lines, connecting Indian travelers to Delta’s transatlantic network.
Photo source: Virgin Atlantic
Pending commercial agreements and regulatory approvals, IndiGo will begin marketing select partner-operated flights under its own code, enabling passengers to book onward journeys to key destinations such as:
– Over 30 European cities via KLM flights from Amsterdam
– U.S. and Canadian cities via Delta and KLM from Amsterdam
– U.S. cities via Virgin Atlantic from Manchester
KLM’s upcoming Amsterdam–Hyderabad route, launching in September 2025, will further expand connectivity, enabling Air France-KLM to offer IndiGo links to 24 additional cities in India.
To support this international growth, IndiGo plans to expand its damp-leased Boeing 787 fleet to six aircraft by year-end and has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s, with options for 70 more.
Delta, meanwhile, is preparing to resume direct flights to India, with a planned nonstop service between Atlanta and Delhi – pending government approvals.
“Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
The MoU outlines areas for further commercial cooperation, including network planning, loyalty programs, cargo, and sales. It also identifies non-commercial areas for potential collaboration, such as aircraft maintenance, sustainability, training, and ground handling. The partners also aim to leverage technology to streamline joint operations and enhance customer service.
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