Star Alliance chief executive board approved on June 24th, 2014 Air India membership, announcing the official joining date for the national carrier on July 11th, 2014.
NEW DELHI – At its Chief Executive Board (CEB) Meeting held in London on June 23rd, 2014, the CEOs of the Star Alliance network unanimously approved the membership of Air India, clearing the way for the National carrier to become the first Indian airline to join a global airline alliance.
The integration teams at Air India, Star Alliance and its member carriers will now complete the last necessary work in order to ensure that Air India can offer all Star Alliance customer benefits from July 11th, 2014 onwards.
Commenting on the decision, Jeffrey Goh, Star Alliance COO said: “We restarted the re-integration with Air India in December last year and just half a year later we are ready to confirm the official joining date. We look forward to welcoming Air India passengers to our global network and offering them our Alliance benefits. At the same time we are pleased to be providing our existing customers improved access to a region which includes the world’s fifth largest domestic aviation market”.
Rohit Nandan, Air India Chairman and Managing Director said, “Air India worked hard to meet the exacting expectations prior to joining and today, we are elated to be inducted into the Star Alliance family. It is indeed an honour and privilege to be the first airline from India to join the alliance. We eagerly look forward to extending the benefits and privileges of Star Alliance to passengers from July 11th, 2014.”
Air India will add a total of 400 daily flights and 35 new destinations in India to the Alliance network. The biggest growth will come from its home market which is currently being served by 13 Star Alliance members flying to 10 destinations and holding a 13% market share. Bringing Air India into the equation not only adds more airports but also increases the Alliances market share in India to 30%. Globally, passengers will further benefit from a wider choice on routes connecting North America, Europe, Asia and Australia via the Indian Subcontinent. In total the Star Alliance network will grow to 27 member airlines, offering more than 18,500 daily flights serving 1,316 destinations in 192 countries.
Reciprocal frequent flyer benefits between Air India’s Flying Returns programme and those of the existing member carries will also become effective on July 11th, 2014. This will provide customers with more options in earning and redeeming, upgrading and obtaining Star Alliance Gold status.
Customers holding Star Alliance Gold status have access to more than 1,000 lounges across the global network, can check-in at specially designated counters, have an increased baggage allowance and receive priority boarding and baggage delivery. All these benefits will also be provided by Air India.
Photo caption (left to right): Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, Air India CMD Rohit Nandan, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinscu and Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
