After being snubbed by Star Alliance, Air India is turning its sights towards the SkyTeam alliance.
Aviation ministry officials spoke with Michael Wisbrun, managing director, SkyTeam last week. SkyTeam’s 14 global air carriers include KLM, AeroFlot, Delta, Alitalia, Air Europa and Vietnam Airlines.
Star Alliance called off Air India’s induction into the grouping on the grounds that the carrier had failed to comply with some of the conditions to join. But Star has left the door open for Air India to enter the alliance at a later date.
Meanwhile Air India, as part of a government-led overhaul of the loss-making airline, intends to ensue that its aircraft achieve more flying hours to match those of carriers like Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Spice Jet.
The government has also grounded 17 aircraft because of their age and condition. “They cannot be operated because they are not safe for flying. “Therefore, they have been grounded,†a government official said.
