Turbulence

New Delhi, Aug. 1: Air India has failed to get an entry into Star Alliance, a grouping of 27 airlines whose membership would have extended the ailing national carrier’s global reach and led to considerable savings.

Star Alliance today said it could not induct Air India because of its failure to meet certain criteria.

Star has, however, not rejected the application and kept a window open for Air India in case it manages to improve its safety and other standards.

“Following a recent review of the status of Air India’s application at a meeting held among India’s civil aviation ministry, Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht and Air India chairman Arvind Jadhav, the decision to suspend (Air India’s integration into the group) has received subsequent confirmation by the Star Alliance chief executive board,” Star said.

Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said, “With the collective decision to put the integration efforts on hold today we aim to contribute to Air India’s flexibility to concentrate on its ongoing strategic reorientation. In this process our member carriers will continue to provide assistance to Air India wherever required.”

The alliance did not explicitly state the reason behind its rejection of Air India’s membership. According to speculations, it was because of the safety concerns raised by the state-run carrier’s pilots and its failure to complete the documentation required to join the grouping.

Air India officials have denied this charge. “We had made it a point to get all the clearances that were required. We have got more clearances than most of the other members of the alliance,” a senior Air India official said.

According to the officials, the national carrier has even implemented the Star Alliance upgrade award programme — the facility for frequent flyers — which till now has been executed by only 19 of the 27 members. Air India sources claimed that it was denied membership because the government did not approve the entry of Jet Airways into the alliance.

According to civil aviation ministry sources, Air India was denied admission because the ministry did not agree to the demands of the international body.