Air India has announced a new codeshare partnership with Azerbaijan Airlines, expanding its international network and offering passengers more convenient travel options between India and Baku. The agreement is expected to strengthen business, tourism and cultural ties between the two countries while improving connectivity across both airlines' networks.

As part of the partnership, Air India will place its 'AI' designator code on Azerbaijan Airlines-operated flights between Delhi and Baku and Mumbai and Baku. The arrangement introduces Baku as a new destination for Air India customers, a route that is not currently served by the airline's own aircraft.

Passengers travelling from Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities can now book their journey to Baku on a single Air India ticket, with the flight carrying an Air India flight number while being operated by Azerbaijan Airlines.

The codeshare builds on the existing interline agreement between the two carriers, enabling travellers to book seamless journeys on a single itinerary across both airline networks. For example, a passenger travelling from Bangkok can fly with Air India to Delhi and then connect to Baku on an Azerbaijan Airlines flight under one booking.

Commenting on the partnership, Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said:

"At Air India, we believe every corner of the world should be within reach of our customers. Partnerships like this one with Azerbaijan Airlines are central to that vision; they allow us to extend our network beyond the destinations we fly to ourselves. Through this codeshare, our customers travelling to Baku will enjoy convenience and reliability from booking their ticket to check-in and touchdown. This is part of a broader effort to keep strengthening connectivity between India and the rest of the world."

Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer, Azerbaijan Airlines, added:

"India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets and an increasingly important destination for both business and leisure travel. Our partnership with Air India is an important step in expanding Azerbaijan Airlines' international connectivity through strategic partnerships. By bringing together the strengths of our networks, we are offering passengers greater choice, enhanced connectivity and a more seamless travel experience between Azerbaijan, India and beyond."

Since its privatisation in 2022, Air India has significantly expanded its global partnership network. The airline now has 26 codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline agreements with leading global carriers, providing customers with seamless access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Air India Express has commenced operations from Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal, with the launch of two daily flights to Delhi and one daily flight to Mumbai, strengthening air connectivity from the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.

The inaugural Delhi-bound flight departed Bhopal at 12:45 PM and arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2:15 PM, while the first Mumbai service departed at 1:40 PM, reaching Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 3:25 PM.

With the addition of Bhopal to its network, Air India Express now operates approximately 55 weekly flights across Bhopal, Gwalior, and Indore, further expanding its presence in Madhya Pradesh.

The latest expansion follows the airline's recent launch of direct international services between Indore and Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its commitment to improving regional and international connectivity from the state.

The newly introduced services are expected to support tourism, business travel, trade, and economic growth while providing passengers with greater travel flexibility between Madhya Pradesh and two of India's busiest metropolitan cities.

Bookings for the new routes are available through the Air India Express website, mobile application, and other major travel booking platforms.

As part of its Tales of India initiative, Air India Express also continues to showcase India's cultural heritage through aircraft tail art. Madhya Pradesh is represented on the airline's Boeing 737-8 fleet with designs inspired by the state's renowned Bagh hand-block printing and Chanderi handwoven textile traditions.

Air India Express, a Tata enterprise, currently operates more than 500 daily flights connecting 43 domestic and 16 international destinations across South, Southeast, and West Asia with a fleet of over 100 Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Commercial flight operations will officially shift from Visakhapatnam Airport to the newly developed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram from August 17, marking a major milestone in Andhra Pradesh's aviation infrastructure.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, all commercial services operating from the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport (INS Dega) will cease from 00:01 hours on August 17, with operations moving to the new airport in Vizianagaram district.

The transition follows the inauguration of the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. Developed at an investment of nearly Rs 4,727 crore, the Greenfield airport has been completed in just 31 months, nearly five months ahead of schedule, making it one of the fastest-completed international Greenfield airports in the country.

The Ministry also announced that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code "VTZ", currently used by Visakhapatnam Airport, will be transferred to the new airport from 00:01 hours on August 17. Additionally, the Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport has officially been renamed Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport with immediate effect.

While commercial flight operations will move entirely to the new airport, the Civil Enclave at Visakhapatnam Airport will remain reserved for national emergencies and aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force, other Armed Forces, police authorities, and special government-owned, leased, or hired VIP aircraft.

The airport has already received its DGCA aerodrome licence, along with all mandatory safety, fire, and environmental clearances, and is ready to begin commercial operations.

In its first phase, the airport has been designed to handle 6 million passengers annually, with a long-term master plan to expand its capacity to 40 million passengers per year.

Spread across 2,703.26 acres, the integrated project includes 2,203.32 acres for the airport, 500 acres for an aviation hub, and 136.63 acres earmarked for an Aviation University and EduCity. The development also features commercial spaces, residential zones, approach roads, and supporting infrastructure.

The airport's 3,800-metre Code-E runway is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330, and Airbus A340. It is equipped with advanced airfield lighting, navigation systems, and CNS/ATM infrastructure to support both domestic and international operations.

Passengers will also benefit from modern terminal facilities such as contact boarding bridges, Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), self-baggage drop, self-service passenger processing, smart surveillance, integrated security systems, and an Integrated Operational Control and Monitoring Centre.

The new airport is expected to play a significant role in strengthening tourism, trade, exports, logistics, industrial investment, and the aerospace and defence sectors across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts, while enhancing Andhra Pradesh's overall air connectivity.