Air India has again objected to Jet Airways entrance to the Star Alliance group following a demand from the civil aviation ministry for the airline to explain how it planned to recover the expenses incurred on its own failed bid to enter Star.
Air India chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan has reportedly said Air India’s objections to Jet’s entry have already been submitted to the ministry.
“It had been agreed at the highest level between AI, the government of India and Star Alliance that AI shall enjoy first-mover advantage into the alliance. However, in spite of having met the joining requirements, Star Alliance has chosen not to admit AI into the Alliance and has instead invited Jet to join the alliance,” Nandan wrote.
“Accordingly, we have sought the support of the civil aviation ministry to ensure that Star Alliance honours its commitment to ensure AI is admitted into Star at the earliest and have requested the ministry to defer the approval for Jet’s entry into Star Alliance and for the proposed wide-ranging code share with Lufthansa since the code share is a precursor to Jet’s entry into Star Alliance,” Nandan said.