Air India has announced a partnership with Avis India to provide ground transportation services for its passengers, offering discounted access to premium chauffeur-driven vehicles across 17 Indian cities. The collaboration aims to extend the airline’s service experience beyond air travel to include ground mobility solutions.
The partnership enables Air India passengers to book vehicles at rates offering discounts of up to 20% through Avis India’s fleet. Services are available in major cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Jaipur, among others.
Service Features and Fleet Options
Avis India’s offering through the partnership includes a range of vehicle options from luxury sedans to SUVs, designed to accommodate various passenger needs for airport transfers, intra-city travel, or intercity journeys. The service features comprehensively insured vehicles with necessary permits, operated by professionally trained chauffeurs and supported by 24-hour contact center assistance.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Air India, positioned the partnership within the airline’s broader service strategy. “This partnership with AVIS India underscores our commitment to offering premium travel experiences to our guests at every touchpoint,” he stated. “With AVIS India, our guests have safe, comfortable and premium ground transportation options that complement Air India’s world-class service standards on ground or in the air.”
Booking Process and Access
Air India passengers can access the service through a dedicated booking platform using the promotional code AIAVIS to receive the partnership discount. The arrangement represents part of Air India’s effort to create what it describes as an integrated travel experience extending beyond flight services.
Aman Naagar, Managing Director of Avis India, described the collaboration as an extension of the company’s existing service capabilities. “AVIS India has consistently delivered world-class mobility solutions to its customers. Partnering with Air India enables us to extend this service promise to a broader audience, ensuring their travel is comfortable, reliable, and stress-free at every stage of the journey,” he said.
Air India’s Transformation Context
The partnership announcement comes during Air India’s ongoing transformation program, Vihaan.AI, a five-year initiative that began following the airline’s return to Tata Sons ownership in 2022 after seven decades under government control. The transformation includes significant fleet expansion, with Air India having placed an order for 470 new aircraft in 2023.
Recent developments in the transformation program include the merger of sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara into Air India Express and Air India respectively in 2024, and the opening of South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. The airline has additional infrastructure projects planned, including a new flying school scheduled for 2025 and a greenfield maintenance base expected to be operational in 2026.
Air India currently operates over 300 aircraft serving 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents, with a workforce exceeding 30,000 employees. The airline group includes full-service carrier Air India and low-cost regional carrier Air India Express.
Avis India’s Market Position
Avis India operates as a joint venture between Avis Budget Group and The Oberoi Group, positioning itself as a comprehensive mobility solutions provider in the Indian market. The company has developed its services over two decades, initially serving Oberoi hotel guests across 12 cities before expanding into broader B2B and B2C segments.
The company’s current operations include what it terms Mobility 360°, encompassing short-term rentals, long-term leasing, and corporate fleet management services. Avis India reports over 900 corporate partnerships and describes itself as the only global brand offering a comprehensive mobility suite in India.
Strategic Implications
The partnership represents a trend among airlines to expand service offerings beyond core flight operations, particularly in the premium travel segment where customers expect integrated experiences. For Air India, the collaboration supports its positioning as a full-service carrier during its transformation period, while for Avis India, it provides access to a significant customer base through airline passenger traffic.
The arrangement may influence how other carriers approach ground transportation partnerships, particularly as the Indian aviation market continues to expand and competition intensifies among both domestic and international airlines serving Indian routes.