By Yoke Har Lee
Singapore Airlines is still on track to become a member of the global Star airline alliance before the end of the year, a company official said.
Rick Clements, vice-president for the airline's public affairs, told the Business Herald: "There has been no change in plans. We hope to
make an announcement at the end of the year and that still applies. The last time top management made any comments about that was from Michael Tan, our executive vice president (commercial). He said there are still a few things to discuss but we hope to become members before the end of the year."
Mr Clements was responding to a query following an article in the Sydney Morning Herald which said Singapore's intent to join the Star Alliance was uncertain after last week's collapse of plans to buy a 50 per cent stake in Ansett Australia.
News Corp called off the deal, saying it wanted Singapore and Air New Zealand to work out how best to approach the deal.
Singapore has since said it was looking at acquisitions outside Australasia and was not interested in further pursuing talks with Air NZ.
The Sydney Morning Herald said Singapore Airlines had delayed the signing of the Star Alliance because it had wanted to close the Ansett deal before joining.
It suggested that the airline could review its relationship with Ansett and Air NZ and consider other options such as the oneworld alliance if the Ansett deal could not be salvaged.
An industry source dismissed the article saying Singapore had no plans to join the oneworld alliance, which comprises British Airways, Qantas, Canadian Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
The Star Alliance is made up of, among others, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Ansett and Air New Zealand.
The industry source said Singapore was still doing its homework. "It is not so much of what issues Singapore has but a matter of clarifying some things."
