Star Alliance - Discussion of Air India, JetAirways to join Star Alliance? [MERGED]

Air India likely to join Star Alliance

From B S Arun,DH News Service,Frankfurt:



Star Alliance, a global airline alliance network, has confirmed that national carrier Air India is likely to join it as a partner airline...


Star Alliance, a global airline alliance network, has confirmed that national carrier Air India is likely to join it as a partner airline.
Speaking to a group of Indian journalists, a Star Alliance officials said: “Yes, we are in talks with AI and our partnership is on the cards. However, AI is in the midst of merger with Indian and we want that process to be over after which it will formally join us”.
Noting that the growing and dynamic Indian market was important to Star, its director (media relations) Markus Ruediger said: “We are looking for one partner in India and we would be happy if AI joins us”.
Asked whether it would be interested in talking to the other leading airline Jet Airways, he remarked that having two partners in India was not feasible.
Star Alliance was created in 1997 to offer customers of its member airlines worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience.
It is the largest airline alliance in the world with 17 member airlines linking 855 airports in 155 countries. The alliance provides passengers 16,000 departures per day and a combined fleet of nearly 2,800 airplanes.
The 407 million passengers of the alliance represent 60 per cent of the world’s air travel, said Ruediger adding that it gives business travellers of its member airlines access to more than 650 airport lounges.
Other alliances
Besides Star, there are two other alliances in the world, One World and Skyteam. Among the Star partners are Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airways, US Airways, Austrian, South African Airways etc while One World has American Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL etc.
According to Ruediger, Star is strong in Europe, Asia and North America while Sky has good market share in North America and North Atlantic.
Membership fee
He disclosed that Air China and Shanghai Airlines will join the alliance this year and Turkish Airlines will do so next year. There is a membership fee to join the alliance. The Star Director also revealed that the alliance has come out with a unique infrastructure – StarNet — in its bid to make seamless travel experience a reality.
“StarNet links the different airline computer systems so that they can exchange information. The development of a common IT platform – where participating carriers use the same infrastructure – is the next step in creating efficiencies for airlines and their customers”.
Two-three carriers have joined the StarNet service which is being provided by Amadeus.
Replying to a question, Ruediger said there was no plan to float an alliance for cargo airlines.

Air India likely to join Star Alliance

Asked whether it would be interested in talking to the other leading airline Jet Airways, he remarked that having two partners in India was not feasible.

Didn't Jaan Albrecht say very recently that Star Alliance was in talks with BOTH Air India and Jet Airways, and that a decision would be made before the end of the year which one it will be. The way I understood, only one of the two will join Star Alliance. So there is still hope it won't be Air India!! :)

Air India = the nightmare & shame of India

Jet Airways = India's pride, neighbor's envy

yes, i agree re air india - it would be terrible..however, let's wait and see what the merger produces..plus AI would open a lot of interesting gulf connections that aren't currently available, plus it has LHR-JFK rights - something star used to have before UA dropped it.
AI also has some interesting connections elsewhere, such as BOM-NBO, which would offer some new ways to get to Africa from here in japan...I'd rather see ET sign up soon...

yes, i agree re air india - it would be terrible..however, let's wait and see what the merger produces..plus AI would open a lot of interesting gulf connections that aren't currently available, plus it has LHR-JFK rights - something star used to have before UA dropped it.
AI also has some interesting connections elsewhere, such as BOM-NBO, which would offer some new ways to get to Africa from here in japan...I'd rather see ET sign up soon...

The merger will produce a nastier mess. Why AI, boy oh boy. I have to avoid that airline at al costs. Never flown it and never will.:mad:

Whatever alliance Jet Airways enters into will have an edge in separating me from my money.

I can hardly wait to redeem my miles for AI!:p ;)

I'd rather see ET sign up soon...

I second that, while I agree that SAA is the star of Africa ET would provide some fantastic connections/routings due to its central location.

Air India likely to join Star Alliance

From B S Arun,DH News Service,Frankfurt:


:D

Curious, what makes AI worse than Jet Airways?

...while I agree that SAA is the star of Africa...

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HAAA HA HHAAAAA! <wiping away tears> HAAAAAAAA!!!!!! <laughing so hard I can taste my own bile> AH HAAA HA HA HA HAAA!

SAA is the star of mediocrity and indifference/contempt for paying customers. :td:

Thank you for that laugh about one of the world's worst managed and run airlines. You are quite the jokester!

Will

this is perfect....with AI in Star Alliance, Jet will more than likely end up in OW....redeem AA mile on JET AIRWAYS with their NEW F.....OH YEAH BABY !!!!

Curious, what makes AI worse than Jet Airways?

One word: Government.

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HAAA HA HHAAAAA! <wiping away tears> HAAAAAAAA!!!!!! <laughing so hard I can taste my own bile> AH HAAA HA HA HA HAAA!

SAA is the star of mediocrity and indifference/contempt for paying customers. :td:

Thank you for that laugh about one of the world's worst managed and run airlines. You are quite the jokester!

Will

haven't flown them, but heard a lot of good things especially the premium cabins. Plus their size.

Air India = the nightmare & shame of India

Jet Airways = India's pride, neighbor's envy

And Kingfisher has them both beat by a mile.

So, although other than the article that led to the original post, none of us are really "in the know", here's what I'm guessing:

Air India - Star
Jet Airways - OneWorld
Kingfisher - SkyTeam

Anybody disagree?

So, although other than the article that led to the original post, none of us are really "in the know", here's what I'm guessing:

Air India - Star
Jet Airways - OneWorld
Kingfisher - SkyTeam

Anybody disagree?

have my doubts on 9W due to BA.

only flown them twice, once domestically and once internationally and they rate in my top 20 flights in terms of comfort and service

only flown them twice, once domestically and once internationally and they rate in my top 20 flights in terms of comfort and service

I have flown them many times and haven't had a problem with them either...actually I thought they were better than BA.

So everyone has their own opinion...which is fine.

UG

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HAAA HA HHAAAAA! <wiping away tears> HAAAAAAAA!!!!!! <laughing so hard I can taste my own bile> AH HAAA HA HA HA HAAA!

SAA is the star of mediocrity and indifference/contempt for paying customers. :td:

Thank you for that laugh about one of the world's worst managed and run airlines. You are quite the jokester!

Will

is it seriously worse than Ghana airways, nigeria airways, ET & KQ?

is it seriously worse than Ghana airways, nigeria airways, ET & KQ?

Does it have to be worse to suck? The comparison to the other carriers isn't parallel, either

If Ghana, Nigeria, ET, and KQ all suck royally, and SAA just sucks, does that make SAA a "shining star?" Methinks not. It just sucks less, but it still sucks. And if sucking less is an important distinction, then we should see SAA ads stating "Fly us, 'cause while we're terrible, the others are worse."

Only KQ is close to fair in the comparison, anyway, as they're in a (dodgy) alliance at least. I guess KQ is a shining star, too. :rolleyes: :p

Does it have to be worse to suck? The comparison to the other carriers isn't parallel, either

If Ghana, Nigeria, ET, and KQ all suck royally, and SAA just sucks, does that make SAA a "shining star?" Methinks not. It just sucks less, but it still sucks. And if sucking less is an important distinction, then we should see SAA ads stating "Fly us, 'cause while we're terrible, the others are worse."

Only KQ is close to fair in the comparison, anyway, as they're in a (dodgy) alliance at least. I guess KQ is a shining star, too. :rolleyes: :p

Ok then I rephrase SAA to "best in Africa".

AI in *A .... Oh my God ! What will the world come to think of next ...

And Kingfisher has them both beat by a mile.


Oh no, IT beats one by a mile. The other one is in a mess of its own, lets just compare apples with apples.

have my doubts on 9W due to BA.

It is better to have a partner than a competitor...since as of right now, BA does not have a competitor to anyone flying a 3 class service NONSTOP to BOM from LHR and back....

This way BA will the advantage of codeshare and higher number of flights which works out better for both airlines...of course BA will have to keep up with Jet, but isn't that that why comepetion exists in the first place?

So, although other than the article that led to the original post, none of us are really "in the know", here's what I'm guessing:

Air India - Star
Jet Airways - OneWorld
Kingfisher - SkyTeam

Anybody disagree?

Northwest has already got Jet Airways and Kingfisher as partners.

In today's german Handelsblatt newspaper there is an interview with 9W founder Naresh Goyal. He stated that 9W does not yet want to join any alliance ("like Star Alliance"), but instead wants to stick with bilaterals for the moment. E.g. he wants to cooperate more with LH, and hopes to start services to MUC and/or DUS in 2008.

Let's wait and see if this will diminish the chances for 9W to join *A, or subsequently will increase the chances for AI to join *A.

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HAAA HA HHAAAAA! <wiping away tears> HAAAAAAAA!!!!!! <laughing so hard I can taste my own bile> AH HAAA HA HA HA HAAA!

SAA is the star of mediocrity and indifference/contempt for paying customers.

Will and I know each other from South Africa, but as a frequent flyer on SAA over the past 6 months, I disagree with the degree of his contempt. Since October last year, I have flown about 8 long haul segments and a more than a dozen domestic segments, and have been 'generally' satisfied. It isn't the LH first that Will to which Will got accustomed, but perfectly acceptable. And best of all, in HKG (which I can do easily from West Coast), they use the CX lounges! Food is not great, service is not always spectacular, but on average as good as most long haul carriers in business. And the lie flat seats really are good compared to virtually every other * carrier.

So, although other than the article that led to the original post, none of us are really "in the know", here's what I'm guessing:

Air India - Star
Jet Airways - OneWorld
Kingfisher - SkyTeam

Anybody disagree?

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1104003 quotes the indian minister of civil aviation saying that AI is going to sign a MoU with Star.

To get a high-profile frequent international flyer to fly the airline, Patel also emphasised the need to sign a MoU with Star Alliance, the oldest and the largest airline alliance with major programs for partner airlines soon.

A few other things too, like retiring a fleet of antique 737-200s that IC subsidiary CD keeps flying around smaller indian cities, setting up a hub in europe, less multiple stopover flights (no more DEL-BOM-HKG-NRT type itineraries, I guess), more "image building" ..

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/36288

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HAAAA HA HA HAAA HA HHAAAAA! <wiping away tears> HAAAAAAAA!!!!!! <laughing so hard I can taste my own bile> AH HAAA HA HA HA HAAA!

SAA is the star of mediocrity and indifference/contempt for paying customers.

Will and I know each other from South Africa, but as a frequent flyer on SAA over the past 6 months, I disagree with the degree of his contempt... SOMA, I've revised my opinion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=708755) slightly. :) We need to catch up sometime soon!

Will

Good article.

You may want to simply post it here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=701403) so it's being tracked in one place.

Will

I would LOVE to see JetAirways join the Star Alliance... Air India? Not so much.

SOMA, I've revised my opinion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=708755) slightly. :) We need to catch up sometime soon!

Will

YGPM!!!