Starting from October 15, 2026, Singapore Airlines and Air India will allow passengers to book flights between Singapore and eight Indian cities—Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai—more flexibly. The new arrangement, announced on October 7, is the first application of a commercial framework agreement signed in January 2026. This agreement includes plans for new reciprocal benefits for members of both airlines’ loyalty programs, expected to be introduced in the second quarter of 2027. Previously, a qualifying flight operated by one airline under a code-sharing agreement and booked through the other had to be linked to a flight operated by that airline. This meant a flight booked through Singapore Airlines had to be connected to a Singapore Airlines flight, and vice versa. Starting October 15, passengers can book qualifying flights from either airline independently, through the airline’s website, mobile app, or through the travel agencies of the other airline. This change allows for more flexibility in code-sharing agreements, where an airline can market a service provided by its partner using its own flight number. For travelers, this means they can now choose between qualifying flights from either airline without needing to combine their operations into a single itinerary. In addition, since April 2026, both airlines have expanded the booking classes that allow for reciprocal mileage accumulation and revised the mileage accumulation rates across all cabin classes. In 2027, members of the Maharaja Club Platinum and PPS Club of Singapore Airlines will receive priority check-in and boarding on eligible routes, along with high-level members of Air India. Members of the Maharaja Club Silver and KrisFlyer Elite Silver will also get extra baggage allowance and priority boarding, in addition to existing Star Alliance benefits. However, the exact amount of additional baggage allowance has not been specified yet. "Travel demand between Singapore and India remains strong," said Lee Lik Hsin, Commercial Director of Singapore Airlines, in a joint statement. He noted that this first phase of the agreement should "bring more choices and convenience," along with improved benefits for frequent travelers. The agreement was signed in Mumbai on January 16, 2026, by Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, and Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines. It sets the stage for deeper cooperation, including schedule coordination, corporate offers, and potential expansion into other markets beyond India and Singapore. Further commercial agreements will require regulatory approvals. Singapore Airlines and Air India also have a financial connection: Singapore Airlines has held a 25.1% stake in Air India since the merger of Air India with Vistara in November 2024. This merger changed Singapore Airlines’ previous stake in Vistara, a joint venture with the Tata group, into a minority stake in Air India. Nipun Agarwal, Commercial Director of Air India, stated in the joint statement that strategic partnerships will be vital to Air India’s goal of becoming a world-class airline. Beyond booking improvements, the two airlines are working to better coordinate their flight schedules to reduce transfer and waiting times for passengers. They are also developing enhanced business travel offers, though no detailed timeline has been announced for these initiatives. Their code-sharing agreement now covers 77 destinations across 27 countries and territories, up from 61 destinations in 20 countries and territories at the time of the January 2026 agreement. Through their hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Singapore, the airlines aim to strengthen their connections across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.