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For the political party in Papua New Guinea, see Star Alliance Party.
Star Alliance
Launch date14 May 1997; 27 years ago (1997-05-14)
Full members25
Non-voting members40 affiliates
Destination airports1,294[1]
Destination countries195[1]
Annual passengers (M)762 million[1]
Annual RPK (G)1,739[1]
Fleet size5,033[1]
HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany[2]
Management
Alliance sloganTogether. Better. Connected.
Websitestaralliance.com


Star Alliance is an airline alliance headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.[5] Founded on 14 May 1997, it was the world's first global airline alliance.[1] As of April 2024, it is also the world's largest airline alliance by market share, holding 17.4%, compared to 13.7% for SkyTeam and 11.9% for Oneworld.[6]

Star Alliance has 25 member airlines that operate a combined fleet of over 5,000 aircraft, serving more than 1,290 airports in 195 countries on more than 19,000 daily departures. The alliance has a two-tier rewards program, Silver and Gold, with incentives including priority boarding and upgrades. Like other airline alliances, Star Alliance airlines share airport terminals (known as co-locations), and many member planes are painted in the alliance's livery.

History

[edit]
"The Star Alliance is Born" – airliners of the five founding members (United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air Canada and Lufthansa) of the alliance gathered together, May 1997

1997–1999: Founding and early years

[edit]

On May 14, 1997, an agreement forming the Star Alliance was announced with five airlines across three continents: United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air Canada, and Lufthansa.[7][8] The alliance chose Young & Rubicam for advertising, with a budget of $25 million (€18 million).[9] The airlines shared the star logo from the beginning, with its five points representing the founding airlines. The alliance adopted its first slogan, "The Airline Network for Earth",[7] with its goal being "an alliance that will take passengers to every major city on Earth".[8]

The now defunct Brazilian airline VARIG joined Star Alliance[7][10] on 22 October 1997, extending the alliance into South America. Also joining were Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand, expanding Star Alliance to Australia and the Pacific.[11] With the addition of the latter two carriers, the alliance served 720 destinations in 110 countries with a combined fleet of 1,650 aircraft. The next airline to join the alliance is Japan's All Nippon Airways on 15 October 1999, making it the second Asian airline in the alliance.[12][13]

2000s: Expansion and first decade

[edit]

During the early 2000s, a number of airlines joined Star Alliance; the Austrian Airlines Group (Austrian Airlines, Tyrolean Airways and Lauda Air) joined on 26 March 2000[14][15] and Singapore Airlines on 1 April.[16] BMI (British Midland) and Mexicana joined on 1 July, bringing the alliance's membership to 13.[17] With Singapore Airlines' entry into the alliance, Thai Airways considered moving to OneWorld, but eventually decided to remain.[18] The addition of BMI made London Heathrow the only European hub with two alliances. During the year, Emirates considered joining Star Alliance, but decided against it.[19] That year the now-defunct BWIA West Indies Airways, which had entered an alliance with United Airlines, considered becoming a member but did not.[20] In 2000, the alliance also opened its first three business centers (in Los Angeles, Frankfurt, and Bangkok) and announced the formation of an Alliance Management Team (AMT), the partnership's executive body.[21] In September 2001, Ansett Australia (the alliance's only Australian member) left Star Alliance due to bankruptcy, giving most of the Australian market to Qantas (a Oneworld member). That year, Star Alliance announced the appointment of a new CEO, Jaan Albrecht.[21]

Partner airlines promoted the Star Alliance brand with a ‘Round the World’ ticket (RWT) that offered choices of 19,000, 21,000, and 23,000 miles with stopovers of 15 cities valid for one year.[22]

Asiana Airlines joined the alliance on March 1, 2003,[23] Spanair on May 1, 2003,[24] followed by LOT Polish Airlines (Poland's flag carrier) joining in October.[25] Around this time, Mexicana Airlines left the alliance after deciding not to renew a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, later joining Oneworld.[21] US Airways joined the alliance in May 2004,[26] becoming its second US-based airline. In November Adria Airways, Blue1 and Croatia Airlines joined the alliance as its first three regional members.[27]

Although Star Alliance invited Lineas Aereas Azteca in 2005 to join in mid-2007, the airline filed for bankruptcy. TAP Air Portugal joined on 14 March 2005, adding African destinations to the network.[28][29] In April 2006, Swiss International Air Lines, the alliance's sixth European airline, and South African Airways (its first African carrier) became the 17th and 18th members.[30]

By May 2007, Star Alliance's 10th anniversary, its members had a combined 16,000 daily departures to 855 destinations in 155 countries and served 406 million passengers annually. The alliance introduced Biosphere Connections, a partnership with UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to promote environmental sustainability.[31][32]

Today, nearly 30% of global air travellers use the services of our member carriers or, looking at it from an overall industry perspective, two-thirds of worldwide air travellers use one of the three airline alliances.

— Jaan Albrecht, former Star Alliance CEO[33]

VARIG left the alliance on 31 January 2007,[34] and the two Chinese airlines, Air China and Shanghai Airlines, joined on 12 December.[35]

On 1 April 2008, Turkish Airlines joined the alliance after a 15-month integration process beginning in December 2006, becoming its 20th member.[36] EgyptAir, Egypt's national airline and Star Alliance's second African carrier, joined on 11 July 2008.[37]

On 27 October 2009, Continental Airlines became the 25th member of Star Alliance after leaving SkyTeam three days earlier. According to alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht, "Bringing Continental Airlines into Star Alliance has been a truly unique experience. This is the first time an airline has moved directly from one alliance to another, and I would like to thank all those involved in ensuring a smooth switch". At the time, it was rumored that the switch was Continental's first move in a planned merger with United Airlines.[38] Two months later, Brussels Airlines joined the alliance.[39]

2010s: Further expansion and second decade of operations

[edit]
Four members of Star Alliance at Tokyo Narita Airport: Thai, United, Swiss and SAS

Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines joined Star Alliance on 13 May 2010,[40] increasing its foothold in South America.[41] Aegean Airlines, Greece's largest airline by number of passengers, joined on 30 June.[42]

Shanghai Airlines left the alliance on 31 October 2010 when it merged with China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member.[43] On 29 September, the chief executive board approved Ethiopian Airlines as Star Alliance's 30th member, though Ethiopian did not officially join the alliance until December of the following year.[44][45] In 2010 the alliance flew to 1,172 airports in 181 countries, with about 21,200 daily departures.[44]

Since 2011, the alliance has gained several large members, but it has lost others due to collapse or mergers. On 13 December 2011, Ethiopian Airlines joined, adding five countries and 24 destinations to the alliance's map.[46]

2012 and 2013 were tumultuous years for Star Alliance, starting with two key departures but ending with a major move into Latin America. In Europe, Spanair ceased operations, and BMI left after being acquired by International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Oneworld members Iberia and British Airways. BMI was integrated into British Airways.[47][48] In North America, Continental merged with United Airlines, reducing Star Alliance's membership further, even if it effectively remained in the alliance after the merger.[49] On 21 June, though, Avianca, TACA Airlines and Copa Airlines joined, massively increasing the alliance's Latin American presence.[50] In November, Blue1 left after becoming an affiliate of parent Scandinavian Airlines.[51] and Shenzhen Airlines joined, augmenting Air China's Chinese network.[52] Taiwanese carrier EVA Air then joined on 18 June 2013, and after TACA's integration into Avianca, the alliance grew to 28 members, making it the largest of the three major airline alliances.[53][54] On 13 December, Air India was again invited to begin an integration process with Star Alliance and joined the alliance on 11 July 2014.[55]

Following this string of expansions, 2014 opened with two major departures through mergers. First, Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines merged with LAN Airlines to become LATAM Airlines Group, leaving the alliance without a presence in the world's fifth-largest country.[56] Next, US Airways completed its merger with American Airlines and also left the alliance.[57] Both parent companies stayed with Oneworld. On 24 June, though, the alliance finally approved Air India, which joined on 11 July, leaving the alliance at 27 members.[58][59][60][61]

Future expansion centers around the addition of Connecting Partners, subsidiaries or partners of alliance members which will add connectivity to the alliance without becoming full members. Avianca Brasil joined in this way on 22 July 2015, bringing the alliance back into the Brazilian market and partially filling the void left by TAM.[62] South African Airways' low-cost subsidiary, Mango, was initially announced to join as a Connecting Partner in Q3 2016,[63] but has since been delayed. Juneyao Airlines, which codeshares with Shenzhen Airlines, joined as a Connecting Partner on 23 May 2017.[64][65][66] On 20 August 2019, Star Alliance announced affiliate member Avianca Brasil's exit from the alliance from 1 September 2019. The departure, however, won't affect Avianca's membership.[67][68] On 30 September 2019, Adria Airways ceased operations, and the airline exited the alliance on 2 October 2019.[69]

2020s: 25th anniversary and restructuring of several member airlines

[edit]

The now-defunct regional subsidiary of Thai Airways, Thai Smile joined as a Connecting Partner in February 2020.[70] In January 2024, the Thai Smile brand was discontinued and folded into the parent airline as a result of the reorganization of Thai Airways International following bankruptcy.[71]

On 16 November 2020, Asiana Airlines announced their plans to exit the alliance.[72] Asiana will merge with Korean Air, the South Korean Government confirmed, in a $1.6 billion acquisition by the SkyTeam member.[73] After the US Department of Justice approved the merger in December 2024, the merger was completed and Asiana Airlines became a subsidiary of Korean Air. No date was given when the airline will depart Star Alliance.[74]

In 2022, Lufthansa Group announced plans to buy a 41% stake in ITA Airways, a SkyTeam member.[75] The European Commission approved the group's purchase of ITA's 41% stake in July 2024.[76] ITA would join Star Alliance in 2026 or 2027.[77]

On October 2023, as a part of the restructuring of Scandinavian Airlines' parent company SAS Group, Air France-KLM, along with the Government of Denmark and two financial firms announced plans to invest in Scandinavian Airlines. In March 2024, US Bankruptcy Court approved the investment along with Stockholm District Court in 12 June 2024 and European Commission on 28 June 2024. As a result of the investment, Scandinavian Airlines left Star Alliance on 31 August 2024 and joined SkyTeam in 1 September 2024.[78][79][80]

Member airlines and affiliates

[edit]
Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines are the 5 founding members of the alliance.

Members and affiliates

[edit]
Member[81] Joined Member Affiliates
Greece Aegean Airlines 30 June 2010 Greece Olympic Air
Canada Air Canada[A] 14 May 1997 Canada Air Canada Express[C]
Canada Air Canada Rouge
China Air China 12 December 2007 China Air China Inner Mongolia
China Beijing Airlines
China Dalian Airlines
India Air India 11 July 2014 India Air India Express
New Zealand Air New Zealand 3 May 1999 —
Japan All Nippon Airways 15 October 1999 Japan Air Japan
Japan ANA Wings
South Korea Asiana Airlines 28 March 2003 South Korea Air Busan
South Korea Air Seoul
Austria Austrian Airlines 26 March 2000 —
Colombia Avianca 21 June 2012 Costa Rica Avianca Costa Rica
Ecuador Avianca Ecuador
El Salvador Avianca El Salvador
Guatemala Avianca Guatemala
Belgium Brussels Airlines 9 December 2009 —
Panama Copa Airlines 21 June 2012 Colombia Copa Airlines Colombia
Croatia Croatia Airlines 18 November 2004 —
Egypt Egyptair 11 July 2008
Ethiopia Ethiopian Airlines 13 December 2011
Taiwan EVA Air 18 June 2013 Taiwan UNI Air
Italy ITA Airways 29 December 2024
Poland LOT Polish Airlines 26 October 2003 —
Germany Lufthansa[A] 14 May 1997 Italy Air Dolomiti
Germany Lufthansa CityLine
Germany Lufthansa City Airlines
China Shenzhen Airlines 29 November 2012 —
Singapore Singapore Airlines 1 April 2000
 Singapore Scoot
South Africa South African Airways 10 April 2006 —
Switzerland Swiss International Air Lines 1 April 2006 Switzerland Edelweiss Air
Portugal TAP Air Portugal 14 March 2005 Portugal TAP Express[E]
Thailand Thai Airways International[A] 14 May 1997 —
Turkey Turkish Airlines 1 April 2008
United States United Airlines[A] 14 May 1997 United States United Express[F]

AFounding member.
BAffiliate is a wholly owned subsidiary that operates flights for its parent company (the member) under a different name.
CAffiliate is a majority owned subsidiary of its parent company (the member) under a different name.
DAir Canada Express flights are operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines.
ETAP Express flights are operated by Portugália Airlines.
FUnited Express flights are operated by CommuteAir, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines.

Star Alliance is located in Earth
ATH
ATH
YUL
YUL
YYZ
YYZ
YVR
YVR
PEK
PEK
PKX
PKX
CTU
CTU
DEL
DEL
AKL
AKL
HND
HND
NRT
NRT
ICN
ICN
VIE
VIE
BOG
BOG
BRU
BRU
PTY
PTY
ZAG
ZAG
CAI
CAI
ADD
ADD
TPE
TPE
WAW
WAW
FRA
FRA
MUC
MUC
SZX
SZX
SIN
SIN
JNB
JNB
ZRH
ZRH
LIS
LIS
BKK
BKK
IST
IST
DEN
DEN
GUM
GUM
ORD
ORD
IAH
IAH
LAX
LAX
EWR
EWR
SFO
SFO
IAD
IAD
BOM
BOM
class=notpageimage|
Star Alliance members hubs

Connecting Partners

[edit]
Connecting Partner Joined Affiliates
China Juneyao Air[64] 23 May 2017 —

Intermodal partners

[edit]

Since August 2022, the German railway provider Deutsche Bahn has been the first intermodal partner of the Star Alliance, whose airlines have been able to assign their own flight numbers for trains.[82][83]

Former members

[edit]
Former member Joined Exited Affiliates Notes
Slovenia Adria Airways 18 November 2004 30 September 2019 Switzerland Darwin Airline Ceased operations on 30 September 2019.
Australia Ansett Australia 3 May 1999 12 September 2001 Australia Aeropelican Air Services
Australia Hazelton Airlines
Australia Kendell Airlines
Australia Skywest Airlines
New Zealand Ansett New Zealand 		Suffered financial collapse on 12 September 2001.[84] Ansett resumed operations on 1 October 2001, but would permanently cease operations on 4 March 2002. In 2002, Hazelton and Kendell merged to become Rex Airlines.
Finland Blue1 3 November 2004 1 November 2012 — Left the alliance on 1 November 2012 after SAS took over mainline operations, was a member affiliate of Scandinavian Airlines, and is now a part of CityJet.[51][85]
United Kingdom British Midland International 1 July 2000 20 April 2012 United Kingdom BMI Regional
United Kingdom Bmibaby 		Merged into British Airways, an International Airlines Group division and a Oneworld member, on 20 April 2012.[47]
United States Continental Airlines 27 October 2009 3 March 2012 United States Continental Connection
United States Continental Express
Guam Continental Micronesia 		Merged with United Airlines on 3 March 2012.[86]
Mexico Mexicana 1 July 2000 31 March 2004 Mexico Aerocaribe Left the alliance in 2004 after deciding not to renew a codeshare alliance with United Airlines, opting instead to codeshare with American Airlines and then joined Oneworld in 2009. Ceased operations on 28 August 2010.[87]
China Shanghai Airlines 12 December 2007 31 October 2010 China China United Airlines Acquired by China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member, on 31 October 2010.[88]
Spain Spanair 1 May 2003 27 January 2012 Spain AeBal Ceased operations on 27 January 2012.[89]
Denmark
Norway Scandinavian Airlines
Sweden 		14 May 1997 31 August 2024 Republic of Ireland SAS Connect Founding member; acquired by Air France–KLM, two SkyTeam members.[90]
El Salvador TACA Airlines 21 June 2012 27 May 2013 El Salvador TACA Regional Merged with Avianca on 27 May 2013; renamed Avianca El Salvador.
Brazil TAM Airlines 13 May 2010 30 March 2014 Paraguay TAM Paraguay Merged with LAN Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.
United States US Airways 4 May 2004 30 March 2014 United States US Airways Express
United States US Airways Shuttle
United States MetroJet 		Merged with American Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.[91]
Brazil VARIG 22 October 1997 31 January 2007 Brazil Nordeste
Brazil Rio Sul
Uruguay PLUNA 		Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.[34]

Former affiliates of current members

[edit]
Member Former affiliate Joined Exited Notes
Canada Air Canada Canada Air Alliance
1997
1999
 Folded into Air Canada Express[92]
Canada Air BC
1997
2001
 Folded into Air Canada Express[92]
Canada Air Canada Tango
2001
2004
 Folded into Air Canada.[93]
Canada Air Nova
1997
2001
 Folded into Air Canada Express[92]
Canada Air Ontario
1997
2001
Canada Zip
2002
2004
 Folded into Air Canada.[94]
India Air India India AIX Connect
2022
2024
 Folded into Air India Express.
India Alliance Air
2014
2022
 Formerly Air India Regional. From 15 April 2022, no longer part of Air India after its divestment and an independent Business unit under the Government of India. Thus no longer a member of Star Alliance.
India Vistara
2013
2024
 Merged with Air India.
New Zealand Air New Zealand New Zealand Air Nelson
1999
2019
 Folded into Air New Zealand.
New Zealand Mount Cook Airlines
1999
2019
Japan All Nippon Airways Japan Air Next
2004
2010
 Merged with ANA Wings[95]
Japan Air Nippon
1999
2012
Colombia Avianca Brazil Avianca Brasil
2015
2019
 Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection.
Peru Avianca Perú
2012
2020
 Ceased operations when Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[96]
Austria Austrian Airlines Austria Lauda Air
2000
2013
 Replaced by Austrian Airlines operations, now known as Austrian myHoliday.[97]
Austria Tyrolean Airways
2000
2015
 Folded into Austrian Airlines[98]
Belgium Brussels Airlines Korongo Airlines
2009
2015
 Folded into Brussels Airlines[99]
Egypt EgyptAir Egypt EgyptAir Express
2006
2019
 Merged with EgyptAir
Poland LOT Polish Airlines Poland Centralwings
2004
2009
 Folded into LOT Polish Airlines[100]
Germany Lufthansa Italy Lufthansa Italia
2009
2011
 Folded into Lufthansa[101]
DenmarkNorwaySweden Scandinavian Airlines Finland Blue1
2012
2015
 Folded into Cityjet[51][85]
Singapore Singapore Airlines Singapore Silkair
1989
2021
 Folded into Singapore Airlines. Some routes transferred to Scoot.[102]
Singapore Tigerair
2003
2017
 Merged into Scoot.[103]
South Africa South African Airways South Africa South African Express
2006
2020
 Folded into South African Airways.
Switzerland Swiss International Air Lines Switzerland Swiss Global Air Lines
2007
2018
 Folded into Swiss International Air Lines after being dissolved.
Switzerland Swiss Private Aviation
2007
2011
 Absorbed into Swiss International Air Lines.[104]
Thailand Thai Airways International Thailand Thai Smile
2011
2024
 Folded into Thai Airways[105]
Turkey Turkish Airlines Turkey AnadoluJet
2008
2024
 Re-established as AJet.
Northern Cyprus Cyprus Turkish Airlines
2008
2010
 Folded into Turkish Airlines[106]
United States United Airlines United States United Shuttle
1997
2001
 Became part of United Airlines.[107]
United States TED
2004
2009
 Folded into United Airlines.[108]

Customer services

[edit]

Frequent flyer programs, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status

[edit]

Status miles can be earned across all Star Alliance member airlines’ frequent flyer programs using a single frequent flyer card, allowing members to attain Star Alliance Silver status or progress to Gold status. Membership in any Star Alliance airline program grants full access to the entire Star Alliance network without the need to register with any additional program.

The more a customer flies on the Star Alliance network, the faster miles or points can be earned, which can be used redeem for a reward ticket or upgrade, along with several other rewards in specific airlines. Customers will have to provide their frequent flyer number when booking flights or when checking in whenever they fly with any Star Alliance member airline in eligible booking classes, for miles or points to be credited to their account.

The higher-tier status levels of each member airline’s frequent flyer programs are aligned with the two uniformly recognized Star Alliance status levels: Star Alliance Silver and Star Alliance Gold. These two status levels entitle special Star Alliance premium customer benefits and privileges. Several programs have premium statuses beyond Gold, but these statuses are still considered under Gold status within the overall Star Alliance network.

Star Alliance Silver grants customers within the frequent-flyer program access to priority reservations waitlist and priority airport stand-by.[109][110] Star Alliance Gold is given to customers who have reached a higher level of a member airline's frequent-flyer program. Benefits are priority reservations waitlist, airport stand-by, check-in and baggage handling; an additional checked luggage allowance of 20 kilograms (44 lb) (or one extra piece, where the piece rule applies), and access to designated Star Alliance Gold lounges the day and place of departure with the presentation of a Star Alliance boarding pass. Some airlines also offer preferred seating (an exit seat or a special section of the plane); guaranteed seating on fully booked flights, subject to the booking class code and notice period, and free upgrades in the form of a voucher, certificate or automatic upgrade at check-in. United restricts US lounge access for their Gold Members to long-haul international passengers; Gold members from other carriers are welcome in US lounges run by United on all itineraries.[110]

It is possible to join multiple member airline frequent flyer programmes. However, as they are each managed separately, miles or points can neither be transferred between programs nor be consolidated into a single program. Therefore, using a single frequent flyer programme provides a faster path towards attaining Star Alliance Silver or Star Alliance Gold.[111][110]

Frequent flyer program list by airline and Star Alliance status equivalents
Airline Frequent flyer program Star Alliance Silver
equivalent status(es) 		Star Alliance Gold
equivalent status(es)
Austria Austrian Airlines Miles & More Frequent Traveller Senator
HON Circle
Belgium Brussels Airlines
Croatia Croatia Airlines
Poland LOT Polish Airlines
Germany Lufthansa
Switzerland Swiss International Air Lines
Greece Aegean Airlines Miles+Bonus Miles+Bonus Silver Miles+Bonus Gold
Canada Air Canada Aeroplan[112] 25K
35K 		50K
75K
Super Elite 100K
China Air China PhoenixMiles Silver Gold
Platinum
China Shenzhen Airlines
India Air India Maharaja Club Silver Gold
Platinum[113]
New Zealand Air New Zealand Airpoints Silver Gold
Elite
Japan All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club Bronze Super Flyers
Diamond
Platinum
South Korea Asiana Airlines Asiana Club Gold Diamond
Diamond Plus
Platinum
Colombia Avianca LifeMiles Silver Gold
Diamond
Cenit
Panama Copa Airlines ConnectMiles ConnectMilesSilver Gold
Platinum
Presidential Platinum
Egypt Egyptair EgyptAir Plus Silver Gold
Elite
Platinum
Ethiopia Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles Silver Gold
Platinum
Taiwan EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Silver Gold
Diamond
DenmarkNorwaySweden Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus Silver Gold
Diamond
Pandion
Singapore Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Silver Elite Gold
PPS Club
Solitaire PPS Club
South Africa South African Airways Voyager Silver Gold
Platinum
Portugal TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go Silver Gold
Navigator
Thailand Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus Silver Gold
Platinum
Turkey Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Classic Plus Elite
Elite Plus
United States United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Silver Premier Gold
Premier Platinum
Premier 1K
Global Services

Codeshares

[edit]

The common use of codeshare agreements led to suspicions of anti-competitive behavior. The European Union suspected the alliance of operating as a virtual merger of its members, with speculation that, if regulations were relaxed, the members might merge into one corporation.[114]

In 2004, Star Alliance introduced a "regional" concept to expand its reach through smaller regional carriers. To join, these regional members needed sponsorship from an existing alliance member. The alliance no longer labels airlines as "regional" members, instead referring to all 27 airlines simply as "members."[115]

By 2007, alliance members were operating 18,521 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries, with a fleet of 4,025 aircraft. The members collectively transported 627.52 million passengers and generated revenue of US$156.8 billion (€145 billion), holding 28 percent of the global market based on revenue passenger kilometers (RPK). Together, the alliance's carriers employed over 405,000 pilots, flight attendants, and other staff.

[edit]

Some Star Alliance members paint some of their aircraft with the alliance livery, usually a white fuselage with "Star Alliance" across it and a black tail fin with the alliance logo; the color or design of the engine cowlings or winglets remains, depending on the member's livery. Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand were two exceptions: Singapore Airlines formerly kept its logo on the tails of its aircraft, but now uses the Star Alliance logo on white tails, while Air New Zealand now uses full black livery with reversed colored original Star Alliance livery elements. Asiana Airlines was the first Star Alliance member to paint its aircraft in the current Star Alliance livery.[116] Aircraft painted in an airline's regular livery have the Star Alliance logo between the cockpit and the first set of cabin doors, except double deck airliner like Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, which printed Star Alliance logo behind cockpit, and airliner with narrow space between the cockpit and the cabin door like the McDonnell Douglas DC-9\MD-80 and Comac ARJ21, which printed the Star Alliance logo under the cockpit or on the first cabin door.

Award and recognition

[edit]
"The Star Alliance is Born" – airliners of the five founding members (United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air Canada and Lufthansa) of the alliance gathered together, May 1997

On 24 June 2024, Star Alliance was voted for two top awards by Skytrax; 2024 World's Best Airline Alliance and Best Airline Alliance Lounge.[117]

References

[edit]
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