UATP, the global network enabling organizations to simplify payment processes and expand their payment capabilities, has announced that Air India will become the first airline in India to offer UATP accounts to its customers. Through the initiative, businesses and travel agencies will be able to purchase Air India travel using a centralized UATP account instead of multiple individual payment methods, making it easier to manage travel spending, track transactions, reconcile accounts, and access detailed reporting.
The program will provide greater efficiency, transparency and control for corporate customers and travel agency partners, while helping Air India strengthen its distribution capabilities, improve payment processes, and support the growing demand for business travel in India.
The agreement, which will be formally announced in the coming months, builds on UATP’s growing presence in India. This marks the next stage of UATP’s expansion in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
“India is a market of significant strategic importance to UATP, and Air India is the ideal partner as the first airline offering UATP in the region,” said Ralph A. Kaiser, President and CEO of UATP. “By partnering with Air India, establishing UATP India Private Ltd. in Mumbai and developing a settlement solution for Indian currency, we are building the foundation for a successful program across India’s travel sector.”
India is one of the world’s largest aviation markets, with aviation supporting 7.7 million jobs and 1.5% of GDP. UATP’s market whitepaper, Opportunity in India: Commercial Aviation, Payments, and Growth on the Subcontinent, cites research projecting growth in digital payment transactions from 159 billion in FY2023-24 to 481 billion by FY2028-29.
Designed to support both Air India and its agency partners, the program provides a modern payment framework that centralizes processes, improves reporting accuracy, streamlines reconciliation, and increases transparency across the payment lifecycle. The initiative advances Air India’s strategic priorities of reducing costs, mitigating risk, and optimizing distribution performance.
“Through UATP, we are empowering our travel agency partners with a modern payment solution that improves efficiency, visibility, and control across the payment process,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Air India. “As the travel market continues to expand, this program strengthens collaboration with our agency community and delivers a differentiated payment offering that benefits the entire travel ecosystem.”
When the UATP-Air India program goes live in the coming months, Air India will be able to expand payment options for businesses and business travelers in India, while creating new opportunities to grow its core travel business.
Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has been undergoing a comprehensive transformation spanning fleet renewal, new cabin products, digital transformation, operational enhancements, and elevated customer experience initiatives. The airline has placed record orders for 600 aircraft, introduced new and retrofitted cabin products, expanded its global network, enhanced on-board offerings, and invested significantly in technology platforms to deliver a more seamless travel experience.
For more information about the partnership between UATP and Air India, or to speak with a UATP executive, please contact Wendy Ward at [email protected].
To view the press release, click here.
