Air India’s acceptance into the elite and prestigious Star Alliance group of 26 airlines signals achche din (good days) ahead for the national carrier after a long time. It is also a recognition of the changing image of Air India, which could not get entry into this alliance a few years ago. Its request was kept in suspension; this was revoked last December, underscoring the winds of change in the airline’s fortunes.
Apart from cutting losses substantially and bringing stability to its own operations, the airline worked assiduously towards integrating its various systems with those of the other member airlines, a requisite for being part of the alliance. By May it had completed 45 of the 64 requirements for admission. It is all not a one-way story because Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and others also stand to benefit from access to the huge Indian market, which seemingly is dominated by the Gulf carriers.
Air India had over the years been battling unfair treatment. in favour of private airlines, and was deprived of various rights it enjoyed. The more recent blows were generous facilities given to Emirates and Jet-Etihad, which gave tremendous advantages to Indian travellers to global destinations. Air India, now part of Star Alliance, can offer customers access to 21,900 daily flights to 195 countries and seamless connections to 1,328 destinations with lounge facilities at all the airports.
