Air India set to join Star Alliance

Air India set to join Star Alliance
By admin


Air India has been given the all clear to restart its integration process into Star Alliance more than two years after it was put on hold.

The Star Alliance board said it was satisfied Air India has overcome its difficulties which led to the suspension of its membership process in 2011.

“Star Alliance has long held the opinion that India is such an important aviation market that it should be fully represented in the Alliance,” chief executive Mark Schwab said. “However the level of change in the domestic market in recent years did not make it easy for an airline to become an alliance member.”

Back in 2011, Star said Air India “had not met the minimum joining conditions that were contractually agreed in December 2007”.

It said the suspension had been a joint decision between the Alliance and carrier during the time it was merging with Indian Airlines.

Schwab declared that India is now showing signs of stability and that Air India has stepped up its performance.

“Today we see an Air India which has successfully completed its merger with Indian Airlines and is building up a new fleet that forms the basis for a much improved level of service,” he said. “This is why we believe the time is now right to commence the integration process.”

Air India chairman and managing director, Rohit Nandan, described it as a historic day for the airline. Its membership of Star will be “beneficial for both sides”, he added.

Meanwhile, Star said membership of Avianca will be extended to include partner Avianca Brazil, a move that will re-establish the alliance’s position in Brazil following the departure of TAM.

TAM merged with LAN to create LATAM, now a member of Oneworld.

Pictured: Air India chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan (far right) shakes hands with Lufthansa chief executive Christoph Franz, as Star Alliance chief executive Mark Schwab and Air Canada chief executive Calin Rovinescu look on.

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