Air India aims to achieve 75% customer satisfaction for star voting rights

New Delhi: National carrier Air India will have to work hard on improving customer satisfaction if it wishes to achieve voting rights in the Star Alliance, the world's largest network of airlines that it joined last month. "We have to achieve 75% of the customer satisfaction plan to be able to fetch voting rights in the Star Alliance," a senior Air India executive said on condition of anonymity.

"We are working on it and should be able to achieve it in a year's time." Air India does not fare well in terms of customer satisfaction ranking on key global airline rating systems. It is ranked No. 3 by airline reviewer Skytrax and below average in the IATA rankings. The airline had earlier formed a three-member committee to suggest ways on improving product strategy. Among other things, the committee has suggested improving the ambience and services in both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft.

Air India joined Star Alliance in July. The airline had to wait for seven years to meet all conditions prescribed by the alliance. The national carrier had started the process of joining the grouping in 2007, but the alliance suspended the process in 2011 on grounds that the airline would take more time to meet the minimum joining conditions due to the merger.
Read news in full 04/08/14 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

Air India systems integration with Star Alliance: SITA completes technical requisites

New Delhi: Global aviation IT firm SITA today said it has completed a variety of technical requisites for Air India to integrate its systems with that of Star Alliance, including those concerning ticketing, e-commerce, departure control and revenue integrity.

The Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA), which earlier integrated the systems of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India after their merger, also provided its Horizon Passenger Services System (PSS) suite of solutions for Air India to seamlessly integrate with the global airlines' grouping.

Air India's Star Alliance will make you Maharaja of the skies

Mumbai: Now travelling on Air India comes with several perks. Not only will you be treated like a Maharaja inside the country but also outside it, thanks to Star Alliance.
Ending a seven-year wait, the national carrier got formally inducted into the alliance at an event in Delhi on Friday. "From today we open up a very different world for our passengers, who can travel to over 1,300 destinations right across the network and enjoy world-class service, better connectivity and seamless travel wherever they go," Rohit Nandan, chairman and MD of Air India, said.
Star Alliance is the world's largest global airline alliance, with its headquarters in Germany. In order to become a member, an airline must comply with the highest industry standards of customer service, security and technical infrastructure. Together, the member airlines share their resources to offer convenient and comfortable travel to passengers.

Air India becomes Star Alliance member

New Delhi: Air India formally joins Star Alliance, a club of 27 airlines.
The Alliance operates over 18,500 flights a day in 192 countries.
To mark the induction, A320 in the livery of Star Alliance was unveiled at the Delhi Airport.
The function of unveiling of aircraft at noon at Delhi airport was attended by the CEOs of Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines and Austrian apart from Chairman of Air India.
Air India is the only Indian airline which is a member of a global alliance.
Read news in full 11/07/14 Business Line

Ceremony on AI formal induction to Star Alliance on July 11

New Delhi: Top officials of several major global airlines are expected to arrive here later this week to attend a ceremony to formally induct Air India as the 27th member of the Star Alliance.

The ceremony at the IGI Airport on July 11 would see Air India unveiling a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A-320, signifying its international and domestic operations, painted with the Star Alliance's star-shaped logo along with the colourful Maharaja logo of its own.

The induction is expected to improve Air India's connectivity to high-growth economies and give the 26 Star Alliance members access to India's vibrant domestic aviation market.

Joining Star Alliance: Air India top brass divided on hiring more cabin crew

As India’s national carrier, Air India, prepares to formally join Star Alliance on July 11, its top management is yet to arrive at a consensus on whether the airline needs to hire additional cabin crew to improve service quality.
While Air India’s customer service division is in favour of hiring additional staff to offer flyers a world-class experience, the human resources wing is opposing the move on the grounds that the carrier already has more than enough people, who need to be trained more effectively. Also, a matter of concern for the national carrier is a hefty wage bill, which it doesn’t want to inflate further.
Air India currently employs 3,400 cabin crew and customer-facing employees.
“There is no need for immediate induction of more people,” a senior Air India official told FE, on the condition of anonymity. “The human resource department has put forward its suggestion to the management in this regard.”

Star Alliance entry to end AI freebie culture?

New Delhi:  Will Air India's entry into Star Alliance from July 11 finally achieve the impossible: Clamp the brakes on free upgrades that netas, babus, other influential people and their kin have enjoyed for years by buying the cheapest economy tickets but getting 'bumped' up to business or first class? Or check the age-old practice of AI employees filling up these seats?

Air India sees 4-5% rise in revenue post entry in Star Alliance

Reeling under financial stress and increasing competition from Gulf carriers, industry experts said that the inclusion of Air India into Star Alliance will do little for the airline to revive from the current position.

National carrier – Air India on Tuesday announced its much-awaited entry into Star Alliance – the biggest grouping of global airlines. After being rejected by the alliance 3 years ago, the airline is now officially set to join the grouping of 26 other airlines by July 11 this year. The move is expected to increase revenues of the airline by 4-5%, according to the airline.

"Today about 13 Star member airlines operate to 10 destinations in India and account for a total share of 13% of India's to and fro market. The inclusion of Air India in Star would take Star Alliance to a stronger position with a share of about 30%," said a note issued by the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA).

Air India’s Star Alliance entry is a win-win for the carrier, the flyers and the club

New Delhi: Air India has finally been given the nod to become a part of Star Alliance. Entry to the exclusive international club consisting of 26 airlines including Lufthansa, Air Canada and Thai Airways, came at the end of a meeting of the Chief Executives’ Board of the member airlines in London on Monday.
The formal announcement of the membership was made by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju here on Tuesday.
All the benefits of a Star Alliance membership will be available to Air India and its passengers from July 11 this year. Monday’s announcement marks the end of a journey that began in 2007, during which the Maharaja has seen its shares of ups and down. Air India had been inducted into the Star Alliance in Beijing in December 2007. But in August 2011, the airline’s application for membership was put on hold as it had not met the parameters contractually agreed to in 2007.

Air India Passengers to Get Premium Facilitation Following Star Alliance Membership

New Delhi: The revenue of Air India (AI) may increase by 4-5 per cent by joining the Star Alliance. This was stated by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati while announcing the inclusion of Air India into the Star Alliance club today in the presence of Secretary, Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Lavasa, CMD, Air India, Shri Rohit Nandan and COO, Star Alliance, Mr. Jeffrey Goh. The Minister said that Air India will get benefit out of this association as a wider reach and access to existing facilities for the members of the world’s biggest grouping of airlines would now be available to the passengers of Air India also.  Air India’s entry into the Star Alliance reflects the buoyancy in the aviation sector resulting from some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government. Star Alliance is the biggest congregation of 26 leading airlines offering worldwide reach and smoother travel experience. The Star Alliance network offers 21,900 daily flights to 1328 airports in 195 countries. Today about 13 Star Member Airlines operate to 10 destinations in India and account for a total share of 13 per cent of India’s to and fro market.

Experts hail Air India's entry into Star Alliance

Mumbai: Terming the national carrier Air India's entry into Star Alliance as a "morale booster," aviation experts today said it will also benefit the flyers.

"Great news! Air India becomes the first Indian carrier to become part of a global network. Full marks to Air India's management and staff who achieved this feat despite myriad challenges," global consultancy KPMG partner and India head of aerospace and defence Amber Dubey said.

Stating that the entry will enhance Air India's global access, passenger and cargo volumes, revenues and profits, Dubey said passengers can earn and burn mileage points on member carriers and access lounges and other facilities.

Air India joins Star Alliance group

New Delhi: Air India Ltd has joined the Star Alliance group of carriers, a spokesman said on Tuesday, a move that could help boost revenues at the loss-making state-run airline.
Executives at Star Alliance met with Air India officials in London on Monday and agreed for the airline, which has been in talks to join since last year, to become its 27th member, Air India spokesman Praveen Bhatnagar said.
Air India will formally complete the process by mid-July, Bhatnagar said.
Membership allows Air India to share routes with the other airlines to more than 1,200 destinations, helping it to compete with Gulf carriers like Emirates, which have increased their share of long-distance flights into and out of India.

Star Alliance membership to boost Air India revenue

Mumbai: Air India is expecting a two-three per cent gain in revenue due to wider commercial partnerships and integration of its frequent flyer programme with 26 member airlines of the Star Alliance.

On Monday board members of Star Alliance met  in London to vote on Air India's induction into the group. A formal announcement on Air India’s induction into the alliance is expected at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.   Star Alliance is the largest of three global airline alliances and includes Lufthansa, Swiss, United, Singapore Airlines  as it members. Air India’s membership into the  Star Alliance was put on hold in 2011 and was initiated afresh last December.
For Air India the revenue gain is expected largely from the integration of its frequent flyer programme, which allows passengers to redeem points on flights operated by any of the 26 carriers in the alliance. Occupancy in Air India’s business class ranges from 45 to 50 per cent and the airline’s executives hope this will encourage companies and frequent flyers to fly more with them.

Decision on Air India's induction into Star Alliance today

New Delhi: The brass of Star Alliance will meet in London on Monday to decide on Air India's induction into the 26-member global airlines’ grouping which could give the government-owned carrier's passengers the facility of seamless travel to over 1,200 destinations. If the membership is granted, it would end Air India's seven-year wait to access the alliance's global network of 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

The member-airlines of Star Alliance together own a total of 4,338 aircraft and fly 640 million passengers a year, many of whom can also earn and burn frequent flyer miles on the entire alliance network.

Decision on Air India's Induction Into Star Alliance on June 23

New Delhi: The top brass of Star Alliance will meet in London on Monday to decide on Air India's induction into the 26-member global airlines' grouping which could give the national carrier's passengers the facility of seamless travel to over 1,200 destinations.

If the membership is granted, it would end Air India's seven-year-long wait to access the alliance's global network of over 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

The member airlines of Star Alliance together own a total of 4,338 aircraft and fly over 640 million passengers a year, many of whom can also earn and burn frequent flyer miles on the entire alliance network.

Air India joins Star Alliance

Air India’s forthcoming membership of Star Alliance will be a welcome start to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governmental term, according to aviation intelligence expert OAG. As the BJP’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to revive economic growth in India, Air India’s new position will improve India’s connectivity to high-growth economies and give Star Alliance members access to India’s vibrant domestic air market.

“With a population of 1.2 billion and an economy projected to grow by 5% this year, India is a market which international airlines have yet to penetrate,” says John Grant, executive vice president, OAG. “Successful integration of Air India into Star Alliance will require some tweaking of schedules but the network benefits look set to work for India’s flag carrier and a good number of the alliance’s members.”