Air India and SBI Card have joined hands to build a new co-branded credit card on the Visa network, aimed squarely at the airline’s fast-growing Maharaja Club loyalty base. The three companies announced the partnership in Mumbai on 28 October 2026, positioning the card as a travel-first product that rewards both everyday spends and flying.
The move brings together India’s flag carrier, the country’s largest pure-play credit card issuer and a global payments network, at a time when issuers are competing hard for affluent, frequent-travel customers through premium co-brand propositions.
What the partnership covers
The proposed card will offer a suite of travel and lifestyle benefits to Maharaja Club members, with customers able to earn rewards on day-to-day purchases as well as on travel-related transactions. The partners have not yet disclosed the launch date, joining or annual fee, reward rates or tier structure, which are expected to be announced closer to rollout.
Air India, SBI Card and Visa said the programme combines the airline’s loyalty ecosystem, SBI Card’s issuing and customer-servicing expertise, and Visa’s global network and co-brand experience.
A loyalty currency play
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said the airline is building one of India’s most compelling loyalty ecosystems with Maharaja Club alongside its fleet, cabin and network upgrades. He said the goal with SBI Card and Visa is to create India’s most compelling travel credit card programme and make Maharaja Club “the loyalty currency of choice for millions of Indians.”
Air India redesigned Maharaja Club in 2024 with a simpler structure, renamed tiers and a new identity. Since then, the programme has added more than five million members. Members earn and redeem Maharaja Points on Air India and Air India Express flights to 104 destinations, on 25 other Star Alliance carriers, and through more than 100 partner brands across hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services.
Issuer and network view
Salila Pande, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said customers increasingly want experiences that offer more value and convenience, creating an opportunity to redefine the role of credit cards in travel journeys. She described the alliance as another step towards differentiated payment propositions and wider customer choice.
Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said the partnership reflects a shared ambition to shape the next generation of payment experiences, where every transaction adds value to the customer’s journey.
Why it matters for India’s cards market
Co-branded travel cards have become a key battleground for Indian issuers as rising air travel, premiumisation of spends and loyalty-led engagement reshape the credit card business. For SBI Card, a marquee airline tie-up strengthens its travel portfolio; for Air India, a deeper card-linked earn engine can accelerate Maharaja Club’s growth and monetisation of loyalty points. For Visa, the deal adds a high-visibility co-brand to its India book as networks compete for premium card share.
Industry watchers will look for clarity on reward economics, lounge and upgrade benefits, and how the new programme sits alongside existing Air India–linked card offerings once full details are released.
