Air India could team up with BA and join OneWorld?
 

Air India and the Indian Government have now officially given up on joining Star Alliance according to several reports in the Indian papers recently. Jet Airways looks to be given the go ahead to join Star any time soon.

Air India is now in discussions with OneWorld and Skyteam about joining of those alliances.

Now that is seems that Kingfisher is not going to last out and probably will not exist in 2013 should Oneworld and BA push Air India to be Oneworld's foothold in India?

Might as well get Air India in instead of them joining Skyteam. Skyteam already has China in the bag so Oneworld should snap up India before Sky get that as well.

Thoughts?

I can't quite see that happening. Not good enough for *A, so let's get it into OW? :confused:

Badly run, state owned airline company with a poor reputation - how's that going to integrate well with the big OW hitters??

There have been worrying reports about their safety standards too, so they're not seeing me on their planes any time soon.

I suppose but I was so disappointed when Kingfisher got their entry suspended and now it looks as if theyll go bust. Jet is going to Star. Looks like OW is going to miss out on yet another opportunity.

That being said Skyteam is full of badly run state owned loss making airlines so I suppose Air India will fit right in there :) .

Apparently as soon as Star suspended their application SkyTeam called them up and made them an offer.

But other reports are indicating nobody will want them and there is a possibility Air India could form a fourth alliance of 'reject' carriers with EL AL.

Good point...

Aerolineas Argentinas has joined Skyteam which doesn't inspire much confidence in that alliance.

I rest my case.

Skyteam are very welcome to have them if they want them as far as I am concerned.

As for the 4th alliance of reject carriers - I hope they'll set aside enough money for the marketing department!

What are you all talking about? Air India is an adventure! The thrill of not knowing whether or not your flight is going to depart today or tomorrow or at all, the DIY food and beverage service when the flight attendants disappear, the excitement of an unexpected landing prior to your ultimate destination when they discover they don't have enough fuel...

That sounds more like IT than it does AI.

Having a permanently staffed Twitter site is the way forward and needn't cost a fortune to run.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...vC_j5OYQXb4wC0

Actually IT has a good chance to survive as a relatively small domestic carrier. Today they have better on-time performance that during 'almost Oneworld' days, but cancellations do happen.

This did actually make me laugh out loud.

Oh well then there is a small possibility that IT will maybe join OW some time in the distant future then as a small domestic carrier????

They would fit right in with Scaryteam..

what would they name a 4th alliance?

NoWorld?

SkyScream?

Car alliance? (cause you will most likely be getting to your destination by car ;) )