Air India (AI) is getting ready to join the Star Alliance, a club of 17 international airlines, by the end of this year. This will help increase its connectivity worldwide through code sharing.

Other members of Star Alliance include Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada and Air New Zealand, among others. The members collectively fly to 855 destinations in 155 countries.

"The heads of member airlines of the alliance will unanimously induct Air India in December," a civil aviation ministry official said.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel had met Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht on 7 August to discuss AI''s joining the alliance.

Air India chairman and managing director V Thulasidas was to meet Albrecht today (8 August) to discuss the modalities of joining the league.