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.”
According to OAG, India’s international capacity is growing at a steady rate of 3%. In June 2014, Air India and Star Alliance carriers collectively provide 28% of India’s international capacity. Air India currently operates to 33 international destinations with a focus on the Middle East (54% of seats) and Europe (12% of seats). Joining Star Alliance potentially adds 11 unserved international destinations to Air India’s network. Two of these are in China, three in Africa (where Air India does not currently operate) and five in Europe.
03/06/14 Breaking Travel News
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“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.”
According to OAG, India’s international capacity is growing at a steady rate of 3%. In June 2014, Air India and Star Alliance carriers collectively provide 28% of India’s international capacity. Air India currently operates to 33 international destinations with a focus on the Middle East (54% of seats) and Europe (12% of seats). Joining Star Alliance potentially adds 11 unserved international destinations to Air India’s network. Two of these are in China, three in Africa (where Air India does not currently operate) and five in Europe.
03/06/14 Breaking Travel News
