Kingfisher set to join SkyTeam

MUMBAI: Kingfisher Airlines is in talks to join SkyTeam, the second-largest airline alliance in the world with as many as 28 members.

If the discussions bear fruit, Kingfisher would be able to piggyback on SkyTeam member airlines to offer better connectivity, thereby giving a boost to its international ambitions.

The carrier has been planning to start flying abroad from the last week of August this year.

Hitesh Patel, executive vice-president, Kingfisher Airlines, confirmed that the carrier is exploring synergies with SkyTeam.

“SkyTeam have pitched for Kingfisher Airlines. We will be talking with them. No decision has been taken yet on joining,” he said.

Earlier, aviation portal ATWOnline quoted SkyTeam’s governing board chairman Leo van Wijk as saying, “SkyTeam hopes to announce the addition of an Indian partner later this year. Discussions with Kingfisher are progressing. We hope to conclude the negotiations in autumn.”

Air India has already announced that it will be joining Star Alliance, the biggest such network of airlines. Before it announced that it was joining Star Alliance, Air India and the erstwhile Indian had reportedly flirted with SkyTeam for a possible alliance.
Jet Airways has been drawing up individual code-share agreements with a number of airlines.

n_john@dnaindia.net