Mumbai: Even though the Civil Aviation Ministry is miffed with the suspension of Air India's membership application to Star Alliance, it is unlikely to stop other Indian airlines from joining the 27-member grouping.
“The Minister has gone on record stating that we have no problems with any another Indian airline joining the alliance. But we do not understand why Air India's application was rejected. If they are trying to arm-twist us by blocking Air India and bringing in another airline, it would not work,” a Ministry source told Business Line.
However, sources said, there hasn't been any application made by any other airline to join the alliance.
The Ministry officials' response came to a Business Line query on whether they would scuttle the entry of any other airline into the alliance, as was being indicated by a representative from Star Alliance.
Star Alliance is one of the oldest and the largest in terms of the number of airlines as members. Its member airlines include German carrier Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Air China and Japan's All Nippon Airways.
05/08/11 Debabrata Das/Business Line
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