Author name: Aviation World

India, 8 October 2026: Air India and Singapore Airlines today announced the launch of the first phase of initiatives under their Commercial Cooperation Framework Agreement, which was signed in January 2026. From 15 October 2026, the two airlines will deepen their commercial cooperation by offering customers a wider range of itinerary and flight options through their respective booking channels. This covers 126 weekly flights between Singapore and eight Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Currently, an eligible Air India-operated codeshare flight booked through SIA must include an SIA-operated flight, and vice versa. This requirement will be removed from 15 October 2026, allowing customers to book eligible flights between India and Singapore operated by either airline on a standalone basis through the other carrier’s website, mobile application, and appointed travel agencies. In April 2026, Air India and SIA enhanced reciprocal mileage accrual benefits for their members by expanding the eligible booking classes and revising earn rates across all cabin classes. Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer members can now earn miles on a wider range of eligible flights operated by either airline. From the second quarter of 2027, Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer members will enjoy enhanced reciprocal benefits on eligible routes, in addition to their existing Star Alliance privileges. Maharaja Club Platinum and KrisFlyer PPS Club members will enjoy priority checkin and boarding privileges, alongside other top-tier members of the respective airlines. Maharaja Club Silver and KrisFlyer Elite Silver members will also receive additional baggage allowances and priority boarding benefits on eligible routes, providing greater recognition and a more consistent experience across both carriers. Air India and SIA are also working on further customer-focused initiatives, including improved schedule connectivity to reduce layovers and waiting times, enhanced offerings for corporate customers, and additional measures to streamline the travel experience. Mr Nipun Agarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Strategic partnerships will play a key role in Air India’s evolution into a leading, world-class global airline. The next phase of our cooperation with Singapore Airlines reflects a shared commitment to putting customers at the centre of everything we do. By building on the strengths of our two airlines, we aim to bring greater consistency to the travel experience of our common customers between India and Singapore, while delivering greater choice, convenience and value. As demand for travel between our countries continues to grow, this partnership positions us to serve that opportunity even better.” Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “The first phase of our strategic commercial partnership with Air India is an important step towards delivering greater benefits and a more seamless experience for our customers. Demand for travel between Singapore and India remains strong, and this partnership will give customers greater choice and convenience, as well as enhanced reciprocal benefits for our frequent flyer members. Customers can look forward to more initiatives that give them more options, and strengthen connectivity between the two countries.”

New Delhi, 5 October 2026: Air Cambodia is strengthening its connectivity between India and Cambodia with the introduction of a third weekly direct flight from Delhi to Phnom Penh, effective 17 December 2026. The additional Thursday frequency will complement the existing Tuesday and Saturday services, offering travellers greater flexibility and more opportunities to explore Cambodia. With the new frequency, Air Cambodia will now operate three direct flights per week between Delhi and Phnom Penh; every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The additional service is expected to further support growing leisure, business and tourism travel between India and Cambodia, while providing Indian travellers with a convenient direct connection to Cambodia’s capital and access to the country’s diverse tourism experiences. The enhanced schedule comes at an opportune time as Cambodia continues to attract increasing interest from Indian travellers seeking a destination that combines heritage, culture, beaches, adventure and contemporary experiences. From the iconic temples of Siem Reap and the cultural vibrancy of Phnom Penh to the beaches of Sihanoukville, Cambodia offers diverse experiences for leisure and holiday travellers. The new frequency also provides greater flexibility for the travel trade, enabling travel agents and tour operators to develop more varied itineraries and packages for customers travelling between India and Cambodia. As Air Cambodia continues to strengthen its presence in the Indian market, the addition of a third weekly frequency is expected to support the growing demand for direct connectivity between India and Cambodia. Aeroprime Group, the India GSA for Air Cambodia, will continue to drive market development, trade engagement and destination awareness across India. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director & CEO, Aeroprime Group, said: “The introduction of a third weekly frequency between Delhi and Phnom Penh marks an important step in strengthening Air Cambodia’s presence in the Indian market. India continues to be an important growth market for Cambodia, with increasing interest from travellers across leisure, business and experiential tourism segments. The additional Thursday service will provide greater flexibility to travellers and the trade, while making Cambodia more accessible from Delhi. We look forward to further strengthening the India–Cambodia travel corridor and creating greater opportunities for tourism and business between the two countries.” Spokesperson from Air Cambodia, “India is an important market for Air Cambodia, and the introduction of our third weekly service from Delhi reflects our commitment to strengthening connectivity between the two countries. With flights now operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, travellers will have greater flexibility to plan their journeys to Cambodia. We see strong potential in the India market, particularly across leisure, tourism and business travel, and this additional frequency will help us serve this growing demand while bringing Cambodia closer to Indian travellers.”

New Delhi, 5 October 2026: flyadeal, Saudia Group’s fast-growing low-cost carrier and one of the largest low-cost airlines in the GCC, has launched its non-stop service between Mumbai and Riyadh, marking the airline’s second destination in India after Hyderabad, and further strengthening its presence in one of its key international markets. The Riyadh-Mumbai service commenced on October 3, 2026, piloted by the airline’s Chief Operating Officer Capt. Abdulaziz Bahri along with Chief Pilot Capt. Ali Hakim, and follows flyadeal’s recent entry into the Indian market with the launch of flights to Hyderabad on July 3, 2026. flyadeal now operates five times a week between Mumbai and Riyadh using its modern fleet of A320neo aircraft, adding more than 7,400 seats each month between the two cities and providing travellers with greater choice and convenience when flying between India and Saudi Arabia. The new flights are conveniently timed to provide a mid-morning arrival into Riyadh from Mumbai and, likewise, a morning arrival into Mumbai from Riyadh, making the flight schedule suitable for travellers looking to connect seamlessly to and from popular destinations within Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, and Madinah, on a single booking with a through fare and with baggage checked through to the final destination. flyadeal’s A320neo aircraft operating on the route feature 186 seats in an all-Economy Class configuration, each offering USB-A or USB-C charging ports, and Airbus’ acclaimed Airspace cabin interior, with extra-large overhead bins for increased stowage capacity, as well as cabin design and lighting created to provide a welcoming ambience and maximise comfort. “India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing aviation markets and a strategic priority for flyadeal as we continue to expand our international network. With Saudi Arabia now one of India’s top three largest international travel markets and travel and tourism flows between the two countries continuing to grow, we see tremendous potential to connect more travellers through convenient, affordable and reliable services”. Sanjiv Kapoor, acting Chief Executive Officer, flyadeal and Executive Vice President Strategies at Saudia Group “As the third-largest low-cost airline in the Middle East region, we are committed to strengthening our presence in India, and Mumbai is an important milestone in that journey. Beyond connecting Mumbai with Saudi Arabia’s capital, the new service also opens up convenient access to destinations across the Kingdom through seamless onward connections on a single booking. Importantly, flyadeal flights use the state-of-the-art Terminal 1 at Jeddah with bullet train access directly from the terminal to both Makkah and Madinah, as well as Terminal 4 at Riyadh which offer quick and seamless connections to flyadeal’s extensive domestic network. Combined with other new initiatives that provide greater flexibility, convenience, and peace of mind when planning travel, we are enhancing the overall customer experience while remaining committed to delivering dependable travel at affordable fares.” flyadeal’s growing India operations As a member of the Saudia Group, flyadeal continues to grow its international network in support of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, contributing to the Kingdom’s ambitions to enhance global connectivity and attract increasing numbers of visitors through the development of its aviation and tourism sectors.