Air India and Zomato Join Forces to Enhance Loyalty Program Benefits

Air India, the flag carrier airline of India, and Zomato, the popular food delivery platform, have announced a strategic partnership that promises to bring enhanced benefits to customers of both companies. This collaboration integrates Air India's Maharaja Club loyalty program with Zomato's food delivery service, creating a unique synergy between air travel and culinary experiences.

Maharaja Club Integration with Zomato

The partnership introduces an innovative way for Zomato users to earn Air India's Maharaja Points:

• Customers can link their Maharaja Club account to their Zomato profile
• Users can accumulate 2% Maharaja Points on food delivery orders exceeding Rs 499

Incentives for New Maharaja Club Members

To encourage new memberships, Air India and Zomato have rolled out an attractive offer:

• First-time Maharaja Club members who enroll through Zomato will receive a bonus of 2,000 points
• The bonus is awarded after completing their first Air India flight

This incentive aims to boost Air India's customer base while providing added value to Zomato users.

Daily Ticket Giveaway

As part of this exciting partnership:

• Customers have a daily chance to win a complimentary one-way Economy Class ticket voucher
• These vouchers are valid for six months, offering flexibility to the winners for their travel plans

Industry Trends and Competition

This partnership follows a recent trend in the Indian travel and food delivery sectors:

• It comes after MakeMyTrip's collaboration with Zomato for their 'Food on Train' service
• The 'Food on Train' service covers over 40,000 restaurant partners across more than 130 stations
• This highlights the growing intersection between travel and food delivery services

Growth in Railway Catering

The partnership announcement coincides with significant growth in the railway catering sector:

• Indian Railways' e-catering services have shown impressive performance
• They are serving over 90,000 passengers daily
• This represents a substantial 66% year-on-year growth
• It indicates a rising demand for quality food services in the travel industry

Implications for the Industry

The Air India-Zomato partnership, along with similar initiatives in the sector, signals a shift towards more integrated and customer-centric services in the travel and food industry. By combining loyalty programs and everyday services like food delivery, companies are creating more touchpoints with customers and enhancing the overall value proposition of their offerings.

This collaboration is expected to benefit both Air India and Zomato by cross-pollinating their customer bases and potentially increasing customer loyalty and engagement. As the lines between different service sectors continue to blur, such partnerships may become increasingly common, offering consumers more value and convenience in their daily lives and travel experiences.