AI to join Star ??
 

interesting link

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...how/544382.cms


NEW DELHI: State-owned carrier Air India is set to join Star Alliance, one of the leading groups of international airlines, as a part of its global expansion plans.
"We would be making a formal announcement on joining an international alliance in December," Air India CMD V Thulasidas told reporters here.
Although he declined to name the alliance, sources said AI was on course to join the Star Alliance and a non-disclosure agreement has been signed.

I have to admit that I was hoping for 9W since they have signed FF agreements with LH / TG / OS / LX

Just because they want to join doesn't mean they will, or that the alliance wants them to.

The article looks like a bunch of nonsense. "Nondisclosure agreement." Yeah. That's it. Also, I don't think AI meets the standards for service as required by *A. 9W does, I think.

Although I would avoid them at almost any cost - AI would add a much needed RTW stop in India. FRA-DXB-BOM-SIN is a pretty nice route!

Check out their Route map (look where they put Kuwait on their map!) to see the extension of the Star network:
http://www.airindia.com/page.asp?pageid=83

Now, if they only added QR we could add a stop in DOH also ;)

Why do you need to go through DXB? They have a nonstop FRA-BOM. Then you can just bypass AI altogether. ;)

I'm still rooting for Etihad to join *.

I just wanted to go through DXB/DOH sometime. I'm usually flying CPH/LHR/FRA direct to BKK/HKG/SIN/NRT bypassing the Gulf area and India. I've been thinking about LH FRA-DXB and SQ DXB-SIN but adding BOM would be fun.

you could easily do LH FRA-India SQ India-SIN. LH and SQ now fly to every decently sized intl airport in india, as does TG. NO AI required. OS uses AI's terminal at BOM, so you can enjoy the better side of the intl Terminal at BOM. The section which all non-AI carriers use is terrible and in urgent need of renovation.

If I read this map correctly, almost every middle-eastern destination
city is located in Saudi Arabia (according to the AI MAP) I just
hope their Navigation system follows something thats more valid :p


I'd love to see Etihad in *A too, but not sure what their strategy is. If its
anything like EK, it won't join any alliance.


cant say much about AI quality these days.. but I hope they do something
about the delays..