Air India Deadline for Joining Star Alliance.

Monday, 16th May 2011 at 08:02am

Star Alliance has given Air India a deadline of July 31, 2011 to meet all requirements for joining, and added a warning that it won't accept another delay, according to a Mint report by PR Sanjal.

The global grouping of airlines is also in talks with Jet Airways (India) Ltd, and may induct it as the second Indian member.

Star Alliance accepted Air India into its fold in December 2007 and the integration process of a new carrier usually takes 18 months. "With Air India, the process has taken longer than expected, mainly due to the fact that the company was undergoing a massive fleet renewal, network expansion, introduction of a new passenger service system and, last but not least, the merger with Indian Airlines," said Jaan Albrecht, Chief Executive Officer at Star Alliance Services GmbH.

State-owned Indian Airlines was merged with Air India in 2007, but some aspects of the merger are yet to be completed.

By: Pete Lee.