Air India to join Star Alliance by March 2009

18 February, 2008:

By March 2008, Air India will join the 19-member Star Alliance.

Star Alliance is an inter-line commercial pact among global carriers aimed at providing passengers a wider choice for travel. Star Alliance officials had already been visiting Air India for talks ever since the formal entry of Air India into the alliance was okayed in December 2007. The airline now looks at fully integrating with Star Alliance by March 2008.

The benefits for Air India, after joining Star Alliance, would be partnerships with some of the member carriers for marketing, sourcing of spares, and long-term contracts for fuel. The other members in the Alliance include Lufthansa and other prominent airline companies. Star Alliance has as its rivals One World, led by American Airlines and British Airways, and SkyTeam, led by Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines. Air India, in the meantime, is preparing to add more destinations to the US, including San Francisco, Washington, and one city in Texas.

As the full integration happens, the Flying Returns scheme of Air India would also be integrated with frequent flier programs of member carriers, where miles earned on one carrier can be redeemed with any of the other member airlines. It added that Air India joining the alliance would also mean the sharing of airport lounges and synchronization of flight schedules. If that happens, passengers would be able to undertake seamless travel on a single air ticket, even if it requires flying several carriers on a single journey.

Significantly enough, Air India had received the invitation to join Star Alliance at a time when the Air India - Indian Airlines is taking place and a fleet expansion plan of 100 aircraft is on the anvil. With India being one of the world's fastest growing economies and aviation markets, the invite was just waiting to happen, it is believed.