On the heels of Brazilian carrier TAM joining Star Alliance, comes news that Air India’s entry is delayed again.
The invitation for Air India to join Star was made in late 2007, and their new timeline for getting their act together and meeting all requirements is now March, 2011. So it will have taken them more than 3 years. The biggest remaining hurdle, apparently, is that they have to integrate the IT systems of their two separate carriers (Air India and Indian Airlines).
Meanwhile, Star must be getting impatient as Air India acknowledges that Star is having conversations with Jet Airways as well.
‘India is a growing market. So it can have more than one member. The market is bound to grow. But we have made it clear to Star Alliance that Jet Airways should join after us as we would like to have the first mover advantage.’
With Kingfisher apparently joining oneworld, Star doesn’t want to be shut out of the Indian market. Jet Airways is a far better carrier than Air India in any case.
You’d have to pay me to fly india air again. We did an lax-fra a few years ago and the 1970’s decor and awful in flight entertainment on their ancient 747’s was enough to drive me crazy.
What a delightful quote! “We haven’t got our act together and our entry has been delayed once again. We must however, be allowed into Star first”.
No personal experience with Air India, but three domestic flights with Jet – I’d be all for *A dumping AIr India and picking up Jet instead.
Both Jet and Kingfisher are far superior to Air India, but unfortunately all three airlines are quite unprofitable with the government probably most likely to provide financial support to the “national” airline instead of the private companies.