Singapore Airlines, Silkair and Vistara to expand codesharing to international flights

Passengers traveling with Singapore Airlines (SIA), Silkair and Vistara will have more international flight options as the Singaporean flag carrier and its regional arm, Silkair, signed an agreement with Indian carrier Vistara to expand codesharing to international routes.

Under the expansion of an existing codeshare agreement which covers Indian domestic flights, SIA and Silkair will add nine new codeshare destinations within India on Vistara-operated flights. The following destinations will be added: Chandigarh, Dibrugarh, Jammu, Leh, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri and Srinagar. SIA will add its ‘SQ’ designator code to Vistara’s new international flights.

Vistara will add its ’UK’ designator code to SIA and Silkair-operated flights between Singapore and eight destinations in India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. As part of the arrangement, Vistara will codeshare on services to more than 40 destinations from Singapore to Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and the US.

“These codeshares will be implemented in phases and are subject to regulatory approvals,” reads a press release from the airline.

“We’re happy to deepen this strategic partnership which means a more seamless flying experience for travelers from India to destinations across Asia, Oceania and the United States,” said Vistara’s chief strategy officer Vinod Kannan.

The codeshare flights will progressively be made available through SIA and Vistara booking channels once necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, according to the airline.

Vistara is a joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Indian company Tata Sons. It will begin its first international flights by offering daily flights to Singapore from Delhi and Mumbai operated by a Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, starting 6 and 7 August respectively.

Earlier this year, Vistara signed a codeshare agreement with United Airlines. This agreement expanded the US carrier’s network to over 20 destinations throughout India. Over the past two years, Vistara has also signed codeshare deals with Japan Airlines, British Airways, as well as Singapore Airlines and Silk Air.