Air India and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote India as a premier global tourism destination and strengthen the country’s position as a key aviation and transit hub.
The partnership will focus on tourism marketing, destination storytelling, trade engagement, transit tourism, and enhancing visitor experiences. By combining Air India’s growing global network with the Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India initiative, the collaboration aims to increase inbound tourism and encourage more international travellers to explore India’s cultural, heritage, natural, and experiential offerings.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, “As the airline that proudly carries India in its name, Air India has a unique responsibility to showcase the country to the world and serve as an ambassador for the “new India” that is confident, vibrant, warm, and welcoming. As Air India expands its global network that already spans five continents and welcomes more visitors to India, this partnership with the Ministry of Tourism will help us to meaningfully put the spotlight on a nation that truly is uniquely remarkable.”
P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, said, “This MoU reflects months of close collaboration between Air India and the Ministry of Tourism and a shared belief that aviation and tourism can be powerful partners in advancing India’s global profile. The framework creates a meaningful platform that combines the Government’s nation-branding strengths with Air India’s growing global footprint. We are excited to work with the Ministry of Tourism to create new pathways for international travellers to discover the richness, diversity, and dynamism of India.”
Air India currently serves 40 international destinations across five continents and connects India with travellers from major markets across North America, the UK and Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Through 25 codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline partnerships, the airline provides access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
Under the MoU, Air India and the Ministry of Tourism will undertake co-branded global marketing campaigns and promote Indian tourism through digital platforms, social media, inflight branding, and other consumer-facing channels. The partnership will also explore opportunities to extend the Incredible India branding across Air India’s customer touchpoints.
The two organisations will also engage with tour operators, travel trade partners, and other industry stakeholders in key international markets. Joint participation in tourism exhibitions, roadshows, familiarisation trips, and other market development initiatives will aim to generate greater interest in India among international travellers.
The collaboration will further involve State Tourism Boards and other stakeholders to showcase destinations across the country and support tourism-led initiatives.
The MoU also focuses on strengthening India’s position as a global transit hub. As Air India continues to develop its hubs in Delhi and Mumbai as major international gateways, the two organisations will explore initiatives to encourage transit and stopover tourism, including the development of dedicated stopover programmes.
Air India and the Ministry of Tourism will also explore opportunities linked to Air India’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme, with the aim of creating customer incentives connected to tourism experiences across India.
The Ministry of Tourism will facilitate engagement with relevant stakeholders to explore special offers and benefits for Air India customers, including access to cultural attractions, heritage sites, museums, and other visitor experiences.
Through this partnership, Air India and the Ministry of Tourism aim to combine aviation, tourism promotion, and destination marketing to strengthen India’s presence on the global tourism map and create new opportunities for international visitors to experience the country.
