**Major Airlines Forge New Alliance to Enhance Connectivity from India to Europe and North America**

DELHI – In a significant development for international air travel, IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic have unveiled plans to establish a strategic partnership. The announcement was made during the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held in Delhi, signaling a robust enhancement of connectivity between India, Europe, and North America.

This alliance, which marks a profound deepening of commercial ties, aims to bolster international travel by linking dozens of cities across these three regions. With India poised as a rapidly expanding aviation market, the partnership will leverage IndiGo's extensive network of over 90 domestic destinations, connecting seamlessly with Delta's transatlantic routes, Air France-KLM's extensive European and North American services, and Virgin Atlantic's stronghold in the U.K. and transatlantic travel.

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration for the airline's global aspirations. "This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence, and innovation. It enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity," Elbers stated.

Already in partnership with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic since 2022, IndiGo’s inclusion of Delta Air Lines significantly broadens the collaborative effort. This enhanced agreement will offer an array of travel options, synchronized schedules, and a unified passenger experience.

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, highlighted the improved connectivity and convenience that this partnership promises. He reaffirmed Delta's commitment to resuming direct flights between the US and India.

The strategic alignment will also introduce new routes. KLM is set to commence flights to Hyderabad, its fourth Indian destination, starting in September 2025. Additionally, Air France-KLM will begin selling tickets for IndiGo-operated flights from Hyderabad connecting to 24 other Indian cities.

Following regulatory approval, IndiGo will soon market partner-operated international flights through its own 6E code. This will provide customers greater access to various destinations across Europe and North America via codeshare flights, including KLM routes from Amsterdam, Virgin Atlantic's services from Manchester, and Delta's extensive North American network.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, underscored the global economic significance of this alliance, linking major world economies and enhancing travel options amid current market conditions.

Despite a recent 17% drop in transatlantic travel from Western Europe to the United States in March 2025—attributed largely to political tensions and border policy concerns—India’s aviation sector remains on a growth trajectory. The International Air Transport Association projects India to become the third-largest aviation market by 2026, with air passenger traffic expected to reach 442 million by 2035.

This partnership stands to significantly capitalize on India's burgeoning aviation market, fostering more streamlined and expansive international travel.