Star Alliance has started talks with Air India on various aspects of integration with the global airlines’ grouping, as the national carrier showed signs of financial and operational stability.
A big team of the 28-member alliance has begun discussion with Air India officials from various departments, including commercial, IT and operations, to take the integration process forward, a month after Star Alliance unanimously decided to recommence the process that was suspended in 2011.
The ongoing meetings are significant as Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab is expected to be here this weekend.
Officials of both sides are understood to be discussing various aspects of the integration — ranging from booking portals and operational integrity to fuel efficiency practices and customer services.
The integration process, which is likely to take 3-4 months, involves, among other things, integration of an airline’s flight network, ticket booking systems, matching of frequent flyer programmes and access to lounges in home countries of the airline.
After a meeting of the alliance Board in Vienna on December 14, Schwab had said “Today we see an Air India which has successfully completed its merger with Indian Airlines and is building up a new fleet that forms the basis for a much improved level of service. This is why we believe the time is now right to recommence the integration process.”
Air India CMD, Rohit Nandan had then said the decision to recommence the integration process would be beneficial for both sides.