Merged AI-Indian to begin operations by Aug 1

New Delhi, July 17: Passengers travelling on Air India (AI) and Indian will be able to through check-in by August 1 at Delhi, Mumbai and New York as contours of the merged entity emerge in coming days.

It means a traveller will be able to check in baggage at either of these cities (for example New York) and he will get boarding passes for all the journey (say to Bangalore or Guwahati via Mumbai or Delhi).

In the next two weeks, passengers will see also see the new combine's logos at airport counters. The complete new look -- with cabin crew uniforms and boarding passes -- will be unveiled at AI's inaugural nonstop Mumbai-New York flight on August 1.

In Kolkata and Chennai, the through check-in facility will start by October 1, said an official spokesperson after civil aviation minister Praful Patel held a merger review meeting today.

AI and Indian will now cease to exist as individual airlines while the former will remain as the brand name of National Aviation Company India Limited (NACIL) because of its global familiarity with travellers.

Mr Patel told airline officials that frequent fliers programme must be revamped as part of the new marketing thrust. Aircraft should be refurbished every 10 years and a comprehensive plan should be prepared for the inducting of additional leased planes. The old fleet will currently fly in existing colours but repainted in new colours when taken off for servicing.

Apart from system integration, the biggest challenge for management will be to ensure that employees of these airline companies work together as a team.

The AI and Indian merger is expected to result in a Rs 13,000 crore (nearly three billion dollars) flagship carrier that will have a combined fleet strength of over 130 aircraft and will touch the 200 mark in the next few years.

Officials from Star Alliance will make a presentation to officials of the merged entity on September 13. Three months later, the CEOs of Star member airlines will decide on inducting AI as a partner.

UNI