Star Alliance, the 19-member global airline grouping, on Thursday voted to accept India's national carrier Air India in the club that offers passengers a choice of over 17,000 daily flights across 160 countries.
Government called the move 'unexpected and disappointing'.
Ending a seven-year-long wait, the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board, at its meeting in London on Monday, gave an endorsement vote to induct Air India into the fold.
Star Alliance had announced last week that it was 'suspending' the government carrier's integration into its network.
Paving the way for Air India's entry into the largest global airlines' grouping, Star Alliance today unanimously decided to recommence the national carrier's integration process that was suspended in 2011.
By joining Star Alliance, Air India will gain access to member airlines' common facilities at airports across the world, as well as code sharing and joint marketing opportunities.
For international travel, frequent flyers look at network and Air India's global network is weak.
Air India would add about 400 daily flights and over 40 new destinations in India to the 27-member Alliance network of over 18,500 daily flights to 1,316 airports in 195 countries.
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The announcement of Air India's induction into the Star Alliance, which has 17 airlines as members and one of the oldest and the largest airline alliances, is likely to be made on December 13 in Beijing.
Finalisation of the date for joining the elite club will be decided only by Air India, Star Alliance vice-president for corporate office, Christian Klick, told reporters here during a media interaction.
No date has been announced for Air India's induction into the club of more than 28 leading carriers
Lufthansa is a founder member of Star Alliance and was the mentor airline for facilitating Air India's entry.
With Air India's July 31 deadline to join Star Alliance approaching, senior officials of the global umbrella body of airline and those from the national carrier would soon meet Indian government officials to discuss the progress made in this direction.
Apart from Air India, the implementation of the airport hub project would involve the airport authorities, other Star Alliance partner airlines which operate from the two airports and ground handling agencies, among others, to make it easier for smooth transfer of passengers from one flight to another.
Lufthansa has been Air India's mentor, helping and guiding it complete all formalities for joining the alliance.
The government will soon initiate talks with Lufthansa to mentor the national carrier to join the global airline group
Two new airlines -- Al Hind Air and FlyExpress -- are set to take to the skies, with the carriers receiving their no objection certificates from the civil aviation ministry.
Star Alliance is generally reluctant to partner with Gulf airlines, partnering with Air India is the only option for the alliance to enter the Indian market, said a senior Air India executive, who also asked not to be named.
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The company expects four to five per cent revenue growth from Star Alliance membership.
It records 4,000 transfer passengers daily at Delhi hub.
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The acquisition will give the Tatas a firm footing on international routes and generate economies of scale.
While the latest airline to join the Star Alliance has met its target on occupancy for May, it remains woefully short on several other counts.
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