Connecting Continents: Air India and dnata’s Game-Changing UAE Collaboration

Image Source: Air India

The Air India network has unveiled a significant expansion of its UAE business through a fresh tie-up with aviation services behemoth dnata. Inked at Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai, the agreement makes dnata the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Air India and Representative Agency (RA) of Air India Express in the UAE, excluding Abu Dhabi and Al Ain for Air India.

Important Points:

Greater Reach: dnata will handle sales, marketing, and distribution for both airlines, enhancing access for customers and trade partners.

Flight Operations: Air India flies 82 weekly UAE-India flights, while Air India Express links five UAE cities (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah) with more than 240 weekly flights.

Market Significance: The UAE is Air India Express's biggest international market, catering to millions of Indian expatriates and tourists.

Historic Connections: dnata formerly acted on behalf of Air India in Dubai between 1967 and 2014, sharing decades of local knowledge on the renewed agreement.

Air India's Kaizad Postwalla underscored the strategic role of the UAE, while Air India Express's Dr. Ankur Garg emphasized potential network expansion utilizing the partnership. dnata's Simon Woodford acknowledged the synergy with growing India-UAE travel demand, fueled by business, leisure, and family visits.

Sources: Air India, Zawya, The Economic Times, India Outbound