The Indian skies are set to welcome a behemoth of an airline, once the Air India – Indian merger is complete. And look who is looking forward to it. Even before the proposed merger of the two state run carriers is on the merged entity is being lured by many a global aviation alliances to join.

Latest reports say, Indian has received an invitation to join the 10-member airline grouping SkyTeam. Air France is the largest member of SkyTeam. Reports said that Air France has made it clear that Indian is a suitable candidate for joining the alliance as it provided synergy not only within India but also in the Gulf region where the European airline has a strong presence.

The SkyTeam comprisers members like Air France, KLM, Continental, Northwest and Aeroflot. There are others too who together operate more than 14,600 flights daily to 728 destinations in 149 countries.

Meanwhile, the invitation having come at a time of the proposed merger, the Indian top brass has explained that a decision could not be taken immediately. The fact that the airline s currently undergoing a safety audit being done by the International Air Transport Association has also forced it to put a decision on the SkyTeam offer on the back burner.

Significantly enough, the SkyTeam invitation has come close on the heels of an expected announcement on Air India joining a global airline alliance.It is believed that Air India would join a global alliance by the end 2006.