A Landmark Partnership for Indian Tourism
In late July 2026, India's Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Air India to jointly promote the country as a premier global destination. The agreement pairs the government's influential 'Incredible India' campaign with the airline's
expanding international reach. The collaboration is designed to boost inbound tourism by coordinating marketing efforts, engaging with trade partners overseas, and enhancing the visitor experience from the moment of booking. As part of the two-year pact, both entities will develop co-branded content and promotional campaigns across digital platforms and Air India's in-flight entertainment systems. The partnership is a non-commercial agreement aimed at strengthening India's position as a key aviation and transit hub.
Strengthening Gateways and Transit Hubs
A key goal of the partnership is to fortify India's major airports, like those in Delhi and Mumbai, as global transit hubs. The strategy involves encouraging transit and stopover tourism, where international passengers are enticed to explore India for a few days before continuing to their final destination. By aligning Air India's network, which connects to over 1,000 destinations worldwide through its own routes and partnerships, with tourism initiatives, the goal is to make India a more attractive stop. This collaboration with State Tourism Boards will also help highlight a wider array of destinations across the country, moving beyond the traditional tourist circuits.
New and Enhanced International Routes
While the Air India partnership focuses on promotion, several airlines are actively expanding their routes into India, increasing options for visitors. In a significant development, Taiwan's EVA Air will launch nonstop flights between Taipei and New Delhi starting December 1, 2026. This restores a direct link between Taiwan and India and provides a high-quality one-stop option for travellers from India to North America via Taipei. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's new carrier, Riyadh Air, began daily flights to Mumbai on August 4, 2026, marking its first entry into the Indian market and signaling its ambition to compete with other Gulf hubs. Air India Express has also been busy, launching a route from Guwahati to Dubai on August 4 and another to Abu Dhabi on August 7, providing crucial direct connectivity for Northeast India.
Connecting Europe and North America
Connectivity with Europe and North America remains a top priority. SWISS Air is set to launch a five-weekly service from Zurich to Bengaluru in October 2026, linking the IT hub to its extensive US network that includes cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Earlier in the year, IndiGo launched India's first-ever nonstop flights from both Delhi and Mumbai to Athens, Greece, operating three times a week from each city and cutting out the need for layovers in the Middle East or other European hubs. For travellers planning seasonal trips, Air India is also operating a seasonal service between Mumbai and Toronto from October 2026 to March 2027.
What This Means for Travellers
For international visitors, these developments translate into more choices, greater convenience, and potentially more competitive fares. The joint 'Incredible India' and Air India marketing campaigns will mean travellers see more tailored content and promotions when planning their trips. The expansion by various carriers into cities like Bengaluru and Guwahati, and the restoration of routes to Delhi, improve access to different regions of India, reducing the need for multiple domestic transfers. The focus on transit tourism could also lead to attractive stopover packages in the future, allowing travellers to add a short Indian holiday to their long-haul journeys. As airlines like EVA Air partner with Star Alliance members like Air India for onward domestic connections, seamless travel within India from the point of arrival will also become easier.
