Gulf Airlines to Join Star Alliance ?
Jan 27, 2018, 3:48 am
#1
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Gulf Airlines to Join Star Alliance ?
Any chance that a Gulf Based Carrier, like Etihad, Gulf Air or Emirates will join the Star Alliance in 2018 ?
Jan 27, 2018, 4:23 am
#3
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Right now there aren't any rumors floating around of anyone joining anytime soon, so considering the process is usually quite long I'd say the chance of anyone new, in the Gulf region or otherwise, in 2018 is pretty near zero.
Jan 28, 2018, 8:38 pm
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Jan 29, 2018, 12:44 am
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Well Etihad has long been rumored to. Especially after signing a partner agreement with LH. But recently, it's been looking more likely that they'll merge with EK, and in that case I would say there's zero chance of joining *A.
Jan 29, 2018, 1:08 am
#7
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Back to your original post, I don't think many people not living in Bahrain would really be cheering for GF, even if they did want to join. That's not at all the carrier that it used to be, a few steps above KU though I guess. These days I think most people would want WY. Both are similar size but WY seems to be growing and offers a solid product.
Feb 17, 2018, 11:40 am
#9
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QR were lined up several years ago but as many will remember LH were obstructive at the time - as they have consistently been with all the gulf carriers and the result was QR very quickly going to oneworld.
On the basis that EK will never join, EY might if they remain independent, no one would want GF which only really leaves WY who are very niche but they do have good products.
On the basis that EK will never join, EY might if they remain independent, no one would want GF which only really leaves WY who are very niche but they do have good products.
Feb 26, 2018, 10:23 am
#10
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There's room for a lot of overall improvement for GF , however with their new CEO ....a star alliance guy AND the announcement yesterday of their route expansion within and near the Gulf, I would say that they have a clear strategy now and I would imagine that would ideally include becoming a star alliance member. It surely would have come to their attention that *A has an absence in that region.
Mar 8, 2018, 7:13 pm
#12
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Mar 8, 2018, 10:10 pm
#13
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Then one day or another, an ME carrier will join *A in the hope of reaping similar benefits, IMO. I am not sure why QR would benefit greatly from OW and another ME airline could not benefit in a similar way in *A.
Mar 8, 2018, 11:12 pm
#14
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In the past it wasn't so much a willingness to join as it was LH blocking any efforts from a ME carrier to join. I don't think that same environment exists today, however the only ones that really exist anymore that could join are GF or WY. EK and EY are happy being lone wolves and going as they are. I'd personally love to see WY at some point, as it is now they offer some attractive business class fares in some useful markets and they aren't big enough to attract the negative attention of LH.
Mar 9, 2018, 12:13 am
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