Air India expands Australian services and transit connections

Air India is expanding its presence in the Australian market as part of a major multi-year transformation plan. Under its ‘Vihaan.AI’ initiative, the carrier aims to triple its size and build a global network by 2027.

To improve the passenger experience, the airline is expanding its ‘Easy Connect’ service. This allows travelers from Australia to check their baggage through to final destinations within India, bypassing customs and immigration at Delhi airport for domestic connections. Currently available for flights to Varanasi, Amritsar, and Ahmedabad, the airline expects to add 10 to 12 more Indian cities to this service within the next six months, pending government approval.

Since the Tata Group reclaimed the airline in 2022, Air India has undergone significant restructuring, including merging multiple airlines and upgrading IT systems. The company has ordered 600 Airbus and Boeing aircraft in a deal valued at over US$70 billion and has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit aircraft and modernize digital infrastructure.