AI's Star Alliance induction may take over a year

Beijing: The integration of Air India into the grand Star Alliance can take 12-18 months and would also involve route rationalisation among member carriers and sharing of facilities, top airline executives have said.
Sharing of business and first class lounges, common mileage points and seamless transit for multiple airline passengers will be among the benefits for alliance passengers following the integration, the executives added.
Senior officials of the alliance explained that the most important factor which tilted the balance in Air India's favour, vis-à-vis its domestic competitor Jet Airways, was the government's decision to merge it with Indian Airlines.
They said since the process involves a host of issues, it could take anywhere between 12 and 18 months for integration. They said it took a similar effort to induct China Air and Air Shanghai - the 18th and 19th members.
18/12/07 IANS/Economic Times

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Categories: Air India - International Dec 2007, Foreign Dec 2007, NACIL Dec 2007, New Dec 2007