Air India seeking Qantas codeshare

 Despite Air India’s return to the Australian route next month, Qantas has no plans to establish a codeshare with the airline.

Air India and its fleet of new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will commence daily flights on a triangular route between Delhi, Sydney and Melbourne from late August, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Qantas and Air India have had discussions surrounding codeshare agreements, but the Australian airline said it will not enter into an agreement with India’s national carrier.

“Qantas has no plans to establish a code-share agreement with Air India,” a Qantas spokesperson said.

The Australian carrier has a relationship with Jet Airways, India’s second-largest airline.

Qantas stopped servicing India in May 2012, after dropping its Singapore to Mumbai service.

Qantas’ partner, Jet Airways, has not made mention of any plans to enter the Australian marketplace.

Air India's decision to launch direct services to Sydney and Melbourne will pose the biggest challenge to Singapore Airlines, which has the lion's share of travel to the subcontinent from Australia.

The NSW and Victorian governments have offered Air India concessions to land at Sydney and Melbourne airports.

Air India will operate its Delhi-Sydney-Melbourne four times per week and its Delhi-Melbourne-Sydney three times weekly.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia