Air India and the Star Alliance [Pre-confirmation discussion]
#47
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Delhi, India
Programs: Air India Silver Edge, Jet Airways Silver
Posts: 271
India and the US have too much at stake to let this continue to simmer.
#48
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
#49
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 278
Has there been any news on potential expansion plans of Air India? They had been planning on using new 787s for US and Europe routes, but I have not seen anything about this recently.
#50
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 971
Europe is the best bet for AI for new flights, may be to Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam or Rome or Milan or Manchester. Not all cities, but 1 or 2 cities among the list might work.
#51
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,183
Due to the FAA downgrade, no new flights can be introduced to the US by any Indian carrier, and this includes code shares. So it is in the best interest of the Indian civil aviation authority to get the FAA issues resolved quickly. I see no new developments though, in trying to get it resolved.
It affects US embassy personnel and families in India, AI is reviewing its Boeing order, US has downgraded Indian aviation. Of course, don't expect anybody to admit that any of this is mutually linked.
I expect this to be resolved only if there is a "summit" meeting, or after new governments are in place in both countries.
#52
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
AI State of Repairs or Disrepairs ?
I doubt if AI will be part of ANY Alliance this yer. Just saw a write up at Banglore Aviation with pics of a cannabalized 777 LR for parts presumably to keep others going . What business do you know that will do this to an operational piece of equipment that will deteriorate quickly ? Great place to pilfer more parts....
#53
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
The FAA downgrade seems to have delayed further updates on these.
#54
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,001
The 787 will service routes of 8-10h, previously operated by A310s in the glory days. So I would expect more asian/european destinations coming up, perhaps servicing an additional *A hub or two.
On the integration front, LH has now kicked out 9W as an option in the ticketing of the various fares to India and just uses the S2/9W flights as allowed feeders. Which is kind of good news as S2 flights were previously excluded. So the divergence on LH & co from 9W is well underway. The integration of AI is not forthcoming though, they totally cleaned up all joint fares late last summer and are not reinstating anything (yet)
#55
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Considering the IN-US routes are 77L service and the current cost of fuel and horrid yield on those routes I doubt AI will expand in the US even if there were no FAA directive.
The 787 will service routes of 8-10h, previously operated by A310s in the glory days. So I would expect more asian/european destinations coming up, perhaps servicing an additional *A hub or two.
The 787 will service routes of 8-10h, previously operated by A310s in the glory days. So I would expect more asian/european destinations coming up, perhaps servicing an additional *A hub or two.
This should be a welcome move, that would improve revenue generation through optimum utilization of capacity which was earlier hogged by the Mantri's / Babu's of GoI.
On the integration front, LH has now kicked out 9W as an option in the ticketing of the various fares to India and just uses the S2/9W flights as allowed feeders. Which is kind of good news as S2 flights were previously excluded. So the divergence on LH & co from 9W is well underway. The integration of AI is not forthcoming though, they totally cleaned up all joint fares late last summer and are not reinstating anything (yet)
Due to the FAA downgrade, no new flights can be introduced to the US by any Indian carrier, and this includes code shares. So it is in the best interest of the Indian civil aviation authority to get the FAA issues resolved quickly. I see no new developments though, in trying to get it resolved.
Europe is the best bet for AI for new flights, may be to Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam or Rome or Milan or Manchester. Not all cities, but 1 or 2 cities among the list might work.
Europe is the best bet for AI for new flights, may be to Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam or Rome or Milan or Manchester. Not all cities, but 1 or 2 cities among the list might work.
#56
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
With AI already serving most of *A hubs in EU and Asia, once the *A membeship is effective, AI pax would have 1-stop access to almost all major NA points. A little while later, the non-stop US/Canada routes can be evaluated and be launched if the metrics seem favourable.
#57
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VABB
Programs: AI-FR, 9W-JP
Posts: 723
Pardon the coffee-depraved zombie, who typed it without proof-reading. Signs of FinancialYearEnd
#58
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
#59
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LONDON
Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, SQ PPS, BonvoyTit, UK, VS, UA, DL, AA
Posts: 1,709
any news on this?