Air India to be formally inducted into Star Alliance by April-May 2009

Hyderabad: Flag carrier Air India (AI) will be formally inducted into the Star Alliance by April-May 2009, a senior Air India official said here today. According to Air India executive director (corporate communications) Jitender Bhargava, the alliance's invitation to Air India was the first such invitation made to any Indian carrier.

Commenting on the operational alliance announced by Kingfisher and Jet Airways, Bhargava said, "Each airline can decide what is best for them and the same cannot apply for other airlines".

"Of course, airlines are passing through a difficult financial crisis, being witnessed in the whole world, and it was natural for airlines like Kingfisher and Jet Airways to think for such a proposal," he said.