Air India and SBI Card to Launch New Maharaja Club Card

Updated as of 28 Oct 2026. From Air India’s press release of 28 Oct 2026, checked the same day.

Air India has confirmed which bank will issue its new Maharaja Club credit card: SBI Card, on the Visa network. The three companies announced the partnership today. The card isn’t out yet, and Air India hasn’t shared fees or earn rates, but it says the aim is to build “India’s most compelling travel credit card programme”.

What’s confirmed

• Issuer and network: SBI Card, on Visa.
• Who it’s for: members of Air India’s Maharaja Club, with travel and lifestyle benefits.
• The goal: Air India wants Maharaja Points to become “the loyalty currency of choice for millions of Indians”, earned on everyday spends as well as flights.
• Timing: “soon”. No launch date yet.

What we don’t know yet

• Card names and how many variants there will be.
• Annual fees, the welcome bonus and how many Maharaja Points you earn per ₹100.
• Lounge access, status perks (such as a Maharaja Club tier with the card) and milestone benefits.
• What happens to the current Air India SBI Platinum and Air India SBI Signature cards.

Earlier this year, reports said a new Air India card was coming, without naming the bank. Today’s announcement settles that. It’s separate from Air India’s 21 Oct tie-up with Standard Chartered, which gives Maharaja Club status to Standard Chartered’s wealthier clients in Singapore and the UAE and isn’t a credit card.

Why it matters

Maharaja Points are already one of the most useful currencies for Indians. Right now you can fly Chennai, Delhi or Mumbai to Singapore nonstop for 12,000 points, or Mumbai to Toronto in business for 1,30,000. A card that earns them directly, at a good rate, could make Air India the easiest airline for Indians to fly on points.

What to do

You are…	What to do
Holding an Air India SBI Platinum or Signature card	⚠️ Nothing has changed yet; keep using it, and watch for news on whether it moves to the new card
About to apply for a current Air India SBI card	⚠️ Wait for the new card’s terms unless you need a card now
Earning Maharaja Points through HSBC, Axis or SBI Card MILES transfers	✅ No change; keep transferring when you have a booking
Flying Air India often	✅ Join Maharaja Club now, so you’re ready when the card launches

See every card that moves points to Air India today on our Air India Maharaja Club page. We’ll update this post when the card’s terms are out.

DealUni take: a big promise, but no numbers yet. Don’t apply for the old Air India SBI cards right now; wait a few weeks to see what the new one offers. Card aa raha hai, par shartein abhi aani baaki hain. (The card is coming, but the terms are yet to come.)

Source: Air India: Air India and SBI Card to launch co-branded credit card soon (28 Oct 2026). Checked 28 Oct 2026.