Air India To Become 27th Star Alliance Member

Tuesday, 24th June 2014 at 03:44am

Air India is looking forward to the day when it becomes part of the global network of the world's largest airline grouping in history, Star Alliance.

This July 11, India will witness the formal induction of its flag carrier, Air India, to Star Alliance, an alliance of 26 major carriers from around the world spanning across 5 continents.

Star Alliance is the world's first alliance of global airlines established in 1997. Founded by five original airlines, the alliance has since grown to 26 full members plus 25 affiliates linking more than 1,300 airport destinations, carrying over 640 million passengers.

The respective CEOs of the existing 26 member airlines recently gathered in London and delivered their unanimous decision to take in Air India as their 27th member, thus becoming the first Indian carrier to join a global alliance.

The country's Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, was excited about the flag carrier's admission to the alliance, saying he was very happy for Air India.

The admission of Air India to Star Alliance has put an exclamation point to the airline's 7-year long drama when it first applied for membership in 2007, fresh from its merger with another state-owned carrier, Indian Airlines. Its application was suspended in 2011 after the carrier was not able to satisfy all the requirements for membership.

Mr. Raju, though, didn't entertain any questions regarding the airline's rumored privatization, but could only muster a few words that such subject wasn't part of the discussion. He hoped, however, that the state flag carrier will finally end its financial woes and be able to grow its revenue now that it's part of the elite circle of global airlines.

He also declined to put a time frame when queried about the airline's recovery from its present financial troubles. He was optimistic though that it will be able to overcome its woes in the near future.

Air India's membership in Star Alliance will enable its loyal customers to access the global network of more than 1,300 destination airports in more than 190 countries. Together, the alliance has a combined fleet of more than 4,300 aircraft.

By: Pete Lee.