Star Alliance top brass will soon meet representatives of Air India (AI) and civil aviation ministry officials to review progress made by the national carrier to join the international aviation network.

At the meeting, officials are expected to decide final date of AI’s formal entry in Star Alliance. The prospect of AI joining the Star Alliance brightened after AI chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav met Star Alliance officials in Barcelona last week.

“In a meeting of the Star Alliance’s chief executives board at Barcelona on June 3, 2011, the Start Alliance GmbH apprised readiness of Air India to join Star Alliance within July 31, 2011,” national carrier said in an official statement on Monday.

Air India’s financial woes have made it difficult for the carrier to make a smooth entry into the global umbrella of airlines. In fact, Star Alliance has even set next month end as deadline for the government-owned carrier to meet all requirements to become its member.

The AI chairman and managing director Jadav said, “Air India is looking forward to join Star Alliance, as scheduled.”

Star Alliance, at present, has 27 international airlines as its members. Some of these airlines are – Lufthansa, Singapore, United, Air China, Air Canada, Thai Airways, and Swiss Air et al. AI’s entry has been postponed due to its merger troubles with erstwhile Indian Airlines.

The airlines need to meet some requirements such as having a single airline code. The carrier has been able to meet some of these requirements. It has already merged the codes of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India for its 127 aircraft flying in 63 domestic and 33 international destinations.

Having a single code was one of the big challenges for AI. This alone has delayed the entry by around one year. Meanwhile, in a separate development, Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav was shortlisted for elevation to the rank of secretary in union government.