Air India, a popular option among foreigners for india-bound flights, is still hopeful of joining the Star Alliance even as the reputed group put airline’s membership on hold in 2011.
Air India is seeking to become a member of Star Alliance and if media reports are to be believed the airline is not willing to take no for an answer!
AI, a popular option among those taking flights to and from India, is determined to pursue the Lufthansa-led grouping for a membership, even as rival Jet Airways is in talks with the global airline group for the same.
AI’s membership was put on hold by the top airline faction a year ago.
“Air India is still looking at Star Alliance and feels that it must take us as our performance data is better than others and better than ever. We approached it last week emphasising this and that we are as good as any of its members,” Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan told Economic Times, a leading financial daily in India.
In case the state-run carrier is successful in becoming a part of the prestigious airline group, international travellers would surely be delighted as it will allow them a host of services and conveniences when it comes to booking flights with the Indian carrier. European tourists would be able to take advantage of the carrier’s vast flight network while travelling within the region.
Benefits around frequent flyer miles earned by taking flights with the airline, seamless flight transfers and airport facilities are other lures that will be added to traveller’s kitty if AI joins the global alliance.
The Alliance network offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries, and is sure to add to AI’s passenger traffic on flights.