



From flyers to faithfuls: Why IndiGo and Air India are racing to lock in loyal customers
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Fifteen months after launch of its loyalty initiative, IndiGo counts 10 million people on its BluChip programme, bringing the Gurugram-based airline at par with Air India's frequent flyer scheme, as the country’s two largest airlines battle it out for more customers. InterGlobe Aviation-run IndiGo, which launched its BluChip programme in September 2024, 107million passengers in calendar year 2025, data from India's aviation regulator show.
This implies that about 1 in 10 passengers who flew IndiGo are members of its loyalty program. Air India, which relaunched its loyalty programme in November 2024, has 10 million members in its Maharaj Club, up from two million in January 2022, when the Tata Group bought the airline. Tata Sons, the holding company of the privately held aviation business, merged Vistara with Air India, both full service carriers, in November 2024, giving a boost to its frequent-flyer scheme.
A single loyalty programme being implemented for Air India and its budget carrier, Air India Express, is expected to be complete by the end of this calendar year, according to an executive at Air India and Air India Express. Mint independently could not ascertain the number of Air India Express frequent flyers. “Trials are currently underway (about the loyalty programme of Air India and Air India Express) and a broader rollout is expected in the latter part of 2026.
It will be a phase-wise merger," said a second executive. Both executives didn't want to be identifed. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express did not offer a comment.
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