National Air Carrier Air India has formally joined the global airlines' grouping, Star Alliance.Announcing this in a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said Air India was trying to join the alliance since last seven years and the joining will benefit the national carrier.Raju also said that passengers who travel in Air India will have wider reach. He said, by joining the Alliance Air India's revenues may increase by 4 to5 per cent.AIR correspondent reports that Air India becomes the first Indian carrier to join a global alliance, the largest one now having 27 member airlines in its fold.The move will help Air India passengers to access the alliance's global network of nearly 22000 daily flights to 195 countries.On behalf of Star Alliance, Air India would provide seamless connectivity to the passengers of Star partner airlines throughout its pan-India network. Star Alliance members include major airlines like US carrier United, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Air China, Air Canada and All Nippon Airways.Responding to a media query Raju said no decision has been taken to privatize Air India. He said the government is finalizing a short-term strategy to strengthen the civil aviation sector, including slashing taxes on jet fuel.