Jet Air in talks with Star, Skyteam for global tie-up

Jet Airways is in talks with two global airline alliances — Star Alliance and Skyteam, the airline's promoter, Mr Naresh Goyal, has said.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) had recently indicated in a report that Jet Airways would join the Star Alliance ahead of Air India.

However, Jet Airways has yet to begin the process of joining a global alliance. Air India's entry into Star Alliance has been stalled due to a variety of factors.

Star Alliance includes Air Canada, Air China, ANA, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines and operates 20,500 daily flights to 1,200 airports. In comparison, Skyteam has Aeroflot, Air France, China Eastern, Delta Airlines and KLM among others, and operates 14,700 daily flights to 958 destinations.

In an informal chat with Indian media persons on the sidelines of the 68th Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association, Mr Goyal said that the airline was looking to expand its international operations to destinations that were economically viable.

The airline is said to be keen to start operations to Munich, Frankfurt and Paris. Currently, the airline operates flights to Brussels, Milan and London, in Europe.

Asked about his reaction to the Government's proposed move to allow 49 per cent foreign direct investment in domestic airlines, Mr Goyal merely said that he would welcome any policy initiative undertaken by the Government.

Mr Goyal said it would be wrong to compare the aviation markets of India and China, especially since there were differences in the purchasing power of the two Asian economies, and the manner in which airlines in China are supported by the state.

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