The global airline alliance, Star Alliance, has said that no other Indian airline had applied for membership in the alliance apart from Air India.
This is despite of the fact that the alliance is open to inducting two Indian carriers in its group.
Options open
“The Indian aviation market is one of the most important aviation markets. Right from the outset we have said that we believe this market is so important that it even warrants two Indian members for our alliance. This situation has not changed and so we aim to keep all our options open,” said Mr Christian Klick, Vice-President Corporate Office, Star Alliance.
The 27-member alliance had invited Air India to join in 2007 but after three and half years, the alliance suspended Air India's application on Monday.
It had also invited Jet Airways to join the alliance but the Government is unlikely to permit that till Air India gets on board.
Aviation industry analysts say that Star Alliance is open to having more than one Indian carrier because Government pressure would mean it would have to induct Air India at some point of time.
“The alliance would want a credible Indian carrier and Jet Airways fits the bill,” said an analyst.
Worldwide, Star Alliance is the oldest and the largest alliance in terms of the number of airlines that it has as its members. Its member airlines include the German carrier Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Air China and Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA).
Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,185 airports in 185 countries.
Being a part of the Alliance would give Indian airlines the opportunity to widen their footprint into all the countries of which airlines are members of the Alliance.