Star Alliance has confirmed that Air India’s pending membership had been suspended indefinitely.
“Air India has not met the minimum joining conditions that were contractually agreed in December 2007,” Star Alliance said in a statement.
The news is a blow for the troubled airline, whose turnaround plan includes the benefits brought by membership of Star Alliance. Air Indian management stated today that the decision was a “surprise” and that they didn’t know why their application for membership had been suspended. Star Alliance did not elaborate publically on their decision, but it has been reported for some time that existing members were worried about stifling competition into India and that they intend to have more than one Indian carrier join their consortium.