It seems Star Alliance is running out of patience with Air India after four years, and according to Air Transport World, the deadline of July 31st 2011 has been set for Air India to for-fill Star Alliance membership requirements – or the invitation to join will be withdrawn.
Now this may sound like bluster, but this is coming from the Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht. He is still expecting Air India will make the deadline, but Star Alliance will no longer wait for AI to get it’s backside in gear and meet the requirements to join the alliance.
The process has been rumbling on for FOUR years. Most airlines once signed to join normally join within a year to two.
Air India has been all over the shop with pilot strikes, IT Systems still not integrating with other Star Alliance members and “other requirements” including sorting itself out both fiscally and integrating Indian Airlines in Air India.
Whatever happens, if Air India can’t get it’s backside into gear, it may have to find new buddies to play with. India is still a growth market which opens the way to Jet Airways…
