Air India launches EasyRoam: Free SIM for overseas travellers, roaming plans start at ₹241

Air India will offer SIM cards, with international voice and data roaming services, to its passengers travelling overseas, the airline announced on Thursday.

EasyRoam, an Air India-branded travel SIM card that offers international roaming services, has been developed in partnership with Tata Communications.

Air India and Tata Communications are part of the Tata Group.

The service will be available as both a physical SIM and an eSIM through a dedicated Air India-branded webpage.

It is designed to allow passengers to arrange mobile connectivity before travelling overseas, the airline said.

In the initial phase, EasyRoam will cover 30 countries across North America, Europe, including the UK, Australia, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

The SIM is being offered free of cost during the inaugural phase, though customers will have to pay for roaming packs.

The roaming plans start from ₹241, excluding taxes, with pricing varying according to the destination and plan selected.

Customers purchasing a data plan can also get up to 1 GB of additional complimentary data, except in the Maldives and Mauritius.

Air India said the service's geographical coverage will gradually expand to as many as 190 countries.

"Today’s travellers expect travel experience to be seamless, instant and secure," said Vivek Manglik, Executive Vice President – Interaction Fabric, Tata Communications.

"Through our collaboration with Air India, we’re bringing travel connectivity into the booking journey itself, enabling customers to choose and activate their mobile plan before departure and go online the moment they arrive," he said.

Manglik said the partnership would make international connectivity "simpler, more secure and more transparent", while giving travellers greater control over their mobile usage.

Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal said travellers increasingly expect uninterrupted access to digital services while crossing borders.

"EasyRoam addresses this need by enabling our customers to stay connected effortlessly while travelling internationally, without the hassle of arranging for connectivity after arrival," Aggarwal said.

The service also includes usage notifications and alerts to help travellers monitor consumption and manage costs while abroad.

Customers opting for the SIM can retain their number for up to one year at a nominal cost, Air India said.

EasyRoam is currently available for purchase through the Air India website and will subsequently be offered through the airline's mobile app.