SkyTeam eyes IndiGo for tie-up, Jet Airways for code share

PARIS: Indian low-cost carriers are now on the radar of global alliances as the desi full service airlines (Jet and Air India) remain either out of bounds or unattractive. The Air France-KLM (AFKLM)-led SkyTeam had spoken to Jet Airways and IndiGo for taking them on board. But, with Jet tying up with Gulf carrier Etihad, it leaves IndiGo as the most attractive member from India for SkyTeam, the world’s second largest alliance after Lufthansa-headed Star Alliance.

“India is a key market. We are looking to have a partner in SkyTeam from India. This is a key to have a foothold in India and a key to the global plans of any airline ,” Air France-KLM commercial director (Asia Pacific ) Bruno Georgelin told TOI here.

Aware of Jet’s tie-up with Etihad, Georgelin said AFKLM has strong ties with the latter too (though not of alliance). “We may in near future expect stronger ties with Jet like a code share. Jet has become stronger with the Etihad tie-up . This will be the first step to cooperation with Indian carriers. The second step will, hopefully, be getting aSkyTeam member and then at some later stage investments may be made here,” he said. Georgelin said ‘exploratory’ talks with Jet and Indi-Go have so far not led to a conclusion but they are at a more advanced stage with Naresh Goyal’s carrier, which means Jet-AFKLM code share may happen soon.

All the three big alliances — Star, SkyTeam and British Airways-led Oneworld — have tried, unsuccessfully, to get an Indian airline on board. Oneworld had roped in Kingfisher but it is grounded since last October.

Star has put Air India’s membership on hold. Aviation minister Ajit Singh, who is headed to Paris for the air show, is going to meet some officials to push for AI’s case. “AI’s performance has improved a lot. The Canadians have sought time to meet me in Paris and the meeting should be on this issue. AI has to submit some data to Star and then it will be clear how their performance has shored up tremendously,” Singh said. The government has unofficially made it clear that to get any airline as member from India, alliances would first have to accept AI.