Air India has till end July to join Star
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Lufthansa, a founding member of the Star Alliance, has said Air India needs to complete all formalities to join the global airline grouping before the final deadline of 31 July.”The Star Alliance has set the time limit for Air India to become a full-fledged member. So, it is time for Air India to prepare by July 31 and meet all criteria. All the solutions need to be worked out by that day”, Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa German Airlines, was reported saying by Press Trust of India.The report said Lufthansa has been Air India’s mentor, helping and guiding it complete all formalities for joining the alliance.Asked about Jet Airways’ membership application, he said the private Indian carrier “will become the second member of Star Alliance. Whoever is ready, can join. We have extended an open arm to welcome both of them”.Spohr had indicated that Jet would take a few more months to join the airline grouping which has about 30-odd member airlines like Singapore Airlines, Continental Airlines and United Air Lines, Air Canada, Thai, ANA, South African Airlines, Swiss and Scandinavian, besides the German carrier.The report said Air India had started working on the technical formalities as early as in 2007 and was originally slated to join the alliance in 2010.But it experienced trouble meeting major membership standards, especially those relating to IT system integration.However last month, the report said it had completed integrating its domestic and international flight code ‘AI’ — combining ‘IC’ and ‘AI’ representing erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India.The report quoted Spohr as saying that “there was no problem” in both the airlines joining the alliance.”We would appreciate both Air India and Jet Airways joining us as it will be very good for the air traveller to have such a brilliant connectivity in India and the growing air traffic demand in that region.”
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