Star Alliance suspends AI's integration into network

NEW DELHI: Air India's bid to join Star Alliance has received a major setback with the global airlines' group "suspending" the national carrier's integration into its network prompting the government to term the move as "unexpected and disappointing".

A decision to suspend Air India's integration with the alliance was "jointly" taken by 27 member airlines as the national carrier "has not met the minimum joining conditions that were contractually agreed in December 2007".

Joining the alliance would have enabled the ailing carrier to add depth to its route network in the international sector by providing passengers last mile connectivity in foreign countries, thereby making considerable savings.

Air India was given a deadline of July 31 to meet all standards and criteria to join the Star Alliance network.

A Star Alliance statement said, "The decision to suspend has received subsequent confirmation by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board," which met on Sunday.

"With the collective decision to put the integration efforts on hold today, we aim to contribute to AI's flexibility to concentrate on its ongoing strategic reorientation.

"In this process our member carriers will continue to provide assistance to Air India wherever required," Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht was quoted as saying.

Reacting to the decision, official sources said it was "unexpected and disappointing" and added that the Civil Aviation Ministry would soon write to Star Alliance to reconsider their decision.

Expressing regret, they said, "Only last week, a Star Alliance Project Manager had given in writing that all the 87 criteria had been met by Air India".