Originally Posted by
rurouni212
The only way I see LH keeping much of what it has is if AI gets into *A. Given the chances of that, they should probably start hammering out new schedules to India.
If GoI has given up on AI's entry into *A there is really no reason for the Govt to delay acting on 9W's request. But I am afraid, there will be quite a bit of horse trading behind the scenes involving issues that have nothing to do with civil aviation.
If LH is made to give up the privileges it secured under the pretense of mentoring and guiding AI into the alliance, *A loyalists will get all bent out of shape. Ability to do one stops to NA out of airports served by LH is not something they would like to give up.
If the German Govt comes to bat for LH, stripping LH of those extra slots will not be easy.
It would be impossible for LH to give any assurances to the GoI regarding AI's membership to *A. The Govt might take the stand that until *A takes a final action, not a mere suspension, on AI's application, and dispense it in accordance with any contractual (rather financial) obligations, the Govt cannot act on the 9W request as it would/could potentially mean two Indian carriers in one alliance.