Air India, SBI Card and Visa have announced a strategic partnership to develop a new co-branded credit card programme designed to offer travel and lifestyle benefits to members of Air India’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme.

The new Visa-powered credit card will bring together the strengths of India’s flag carrier, one of the country’s leading credit card issuers and a global digital payments network. The initiative aims to offer greater value to frequent flyers and loyalty members by connecting everyday spending with travel rewards and lifestyle benefits.

Air India brings its extensive domestic and international network to the partnership, while SBI Card contributes its experience in the Indian credit card market and understanding of evolving consumer spending habits. Visa adds its global payments network, technology capabilities and experience in developing co-branded credit card programmes across international markets.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, “As we transform every aspect of the customer journey with Air India, from a modernising fleet and world-class cabin products to an expanding global network, we are also building one of India’s most compelling loyalty ecosystems with Maharaja Club. We see a tremendous opportunity to create a co-brand credit card that is unmatched in its ability to reward customers for both their everyday earning and their travel & lifestyle aspirations. Together with SBI Card and Visa, our goal is to build India’s most compelling travel credit card programme and make Maharaja Club the loyalty currency of choice for millions of Indians.”

Salila Pande, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said, “As travel aspirations evolve and customers seek experiences that offer greater value and convenience, we see a significant opportunity to redefine the role of credit cards in their travel journeys. At SBI Card, our focus remains on developing differentiated credit card propositions that are aligned with evolving customer preferences, unique spending needs, and lifestyle aspirations. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to create a compelling travel-focussed credit card that delivers rewarding experiences to customers. This partnership marks another significant step towards delivering innovative payment solutions for customers and expanding customer choice.”

Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said, “Our partnership with Air India and SBI Card reflects a shared ambition to shape the next generation of payment experiences – where every transaction adds greater value to the journey. By bringing together Visa’s trusted global network and decades of co-brand expertise, we aim to create a compelling proposition that elevates travel for Air India and SBI Card customers in India and around the world.”

Air India’s Maharaja Club Expands Its Loyalty Programme

The new credit card initiative comes as Air India continues to develop its Maharaja Club loyalty programme. Following a redesign in 2024, the programme introduced a simplified structure, customer-friendly features, renamed tiers and an updated identity. Since then, Maharaja Club has added more than five million new members.

Members can earn and redeem Maharaja Points on flights operated by Air India and Air India Express across 104 destinations in North America, Europe, including the UK, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The programme also extends these opportunities to flights operated by 25 other Star Alliance member airlines.

Beyond air travel, Maharaja Club has partnerships with more than 100 brands across hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services. These partnerships allow members to earn Maharaja Points through a wider range of travel-related and everyday spending.

The proposed co-branded credit card programme builds on this existing loyalty network, bringing together airline rewards, credit card spending and lifestyle benefits in a single proposition. For Air India, SBI Card and Visa, the partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen customer engagement while responding to the growing demand for travel-focused financial products in India.

As Air India continues to expand its international network and invest in its passenger experience, the collaboration is expected to support the airline’s wider ambition to make Maharaja Club a preferred loyalty programme for Indian travellers.

Read More: Aviation