GURUGRAM: Air India has announced an interline partnership with Bangkok Airways, allowing Air India guests to connect to 10 destinations in Southeast Asia beyond Bangkok. The partnership includes Inter Airline Through Check-In (IATCI) implementation, which enables guests to receive their boarding passes at the first point of departure for all travel sectors on a single ticket and have their baggage checked in through to their final destinations. Air India guests taking connecting flights on Bangkok Airways will also receive complimentary access to Bangkok Airways’ Boutique Lounges and Courtesy Corners at available airports, regardless of the cabin class they fly.
The partnership also includes a Special Prorate Agreement, which allows both carriers to file ‘through fares’ on routes covering each other’s networks. Air India guests can connect to the following points in Thailand through Bangkok Airways: Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Trat, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi. The points outside of Thailand include Luang Prabang in Laos; and Phnom Penh, Siem Reap in Cambodia. In addition to the Bangkok gateway, Air India guests can also choose to fly to Koh Samui via Singapore and Hong Kong.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Office, Air India, said, “One of our strategic priorities at Air India is to offer our guests the choice of flying to more places through our own as well as an augmented global network. We are happy to join hands with Bangkok Airways as part of that effort to provide our guests greater connectivity within Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia.“
Chulin Kocharoen, Vice President of Network and Product Development of Bangkok Airways PLC, said, “Air India is a leading global airline with a major presence in India and across the world. We are pleased to enter an interline partnership with Air India to strengthen our respective route networks and offer business and leisure travelers unprecedented and convenient access to new gateways. Moreover, Air India passengers traveling on Bangkok Airways flights will enjoy the boutique airline’s unparalleled services such as lounge access at available airports, in-flight meals, and much more.“
Air India operates daily flights to Bangkok from Delhi and Mumbai, to Singapore from Delhi (twice daily), to Mumbai, and Chennai, and thrice a week to Hong Kong from Delhi. Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector. After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022. Air India is navigating through a major five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI, with an ambition to become a world-class airline with an Indian heart. A member of Star Alliance, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world.
