United has entered into a codeshare agreement with Indian
domestic carrier Vistara.
The agreement, which becomes effective in the fall, will
provide United customers with through-booking and one-stop connections via
Vistara to more than 20 Indian destinations from New Delhi and
Mumbai. United MileagePlus members will also be able to earn and redeem
frequent flier miles on all Vistara routes.
The agreement bolsters United's India service. The carrier
currently flies year-round from its Newark hub to New Delhi and Mumbai. In
addition, United will launch winter seasonal service from San Francisco to New
Delhi on Dec. 5.
The announcement comes as United prepares to face new
competition from Delta, which will launch daily New York-Mumbai flights on Dec.
22.
At present, United is the lone U.S. carrier that flies to India.
Air India is the largest player in the U.S-India market, serving New York JFK,
Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare and San Francisco.