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**{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Lauda Air]] [http://www.laudaair.com]
**{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Lauda Air]] [http://www.laudaair.com]
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[bmi (airline)|bmi]] [http://www.flybmi.com/]
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[bmi (airline)|bmi]] [http://www.flybmi.com/]
**{{flagicon United Kingdom}} [[bmi baby]]
**{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[bmi Regional]]
**{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[bmi Regional]]
*{{flagicon|Egypt}} [[EgyptAir]] [http://www.egyptair.com]
*{{flagicon|Egypt}} [[EgyptAir]] [http://www.egyptair.com]

Revision as of 19:07, 11 October 2008

Star Alliance
File:SA logo.png
Launch date14 May 1997
Full members21
Non-voting members3
Pending members4
Destination airports975
Destination countries162
Annual passengers (M)499.96
Annual RPK (G)990.24
Fleet size3,359
ManagementJaan Albrecht (CEO)
Websitewww.StarAlliance.com [1]


Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines. Star Alliance has since grown considerably and now has 21 full and 3 regional members, with another three expected to become full members by 2009.

Customer service

Codeshare flights between these airlines are, for the most part, seamless. This tight cooperation led to suspicions of anti-competitive behavior, and the alliance was investigated by the European Union as a virtual merger of its members. Indeed, some speculated that if government regulations were relaxed, the members would merge into a single corporation[2], although no evidence has yet materialized. Prior to Star Alliance, Northwest Airlines and KLM were operating together as the forerunners of the modern airline alliance system since 1993, although there had been even earlier pairings and groupings of airlines for decades on a less formal level. The creation of Star Alliance was a milestone in airline history because of its size. It sparked the formation of rivals, notably SkyTeam and Oneworld.

Spanair Airbus A320 at Frankfurt International Airport with the Star Alliance logo
Austrian's B777-200ER taxiing
United Airlines Boeing 777-200 landing
File:AirChinaLivery.jpg.JPG
Air China's B757-200 plane with the Star Alliance logo, seen at Beijing Capital International Airport in December 2007
Air New Zealand aircraft at Wellington Airport with the Star Alliance logo
Thai Airways International is one of the founding members of Star Alliance

The alliance developed the "regional" concept in 2004, which helps Star Alliance penetrate individual markets with the regional participation of smaller carriers. Regional Star Alliance members have to be sponsored by an existing full Star Alliance member.

Star Alliance members now fly 18,100 daily flights to 975 airports in 162 countries with a fleet of 3,087 aircraft. Its members carried a total of 405.7 million passengers with a turnover of US$95.3 billion in 2006. The alliance's market share is 28% of the global market based on revenue passenger kilometers (RPK). All Star Alliance carriers combined employ over 350,000 pilots, flight attendants, and other staff. Star Alliance was voted best airline alliance in the Skytrax 2007 World Airline Awards.[3]

Membership history

Co-location (move under one roof)

Logo on aircraft

Some Star Alliance members paint some of their planes with the Star Alliance livery, usually featuring a white fuselage with "Star Alliance" signature written across and a black tailfin with the Star Alliance logo. Singapore Airlines has painted some of their aircraft in a modified Star Alliance livery with a white tail instead of black. Asiana Airlines was the first Star Alliance member to paint their aircraft in Star Alliance livery. The aircraft that are not painted with the Star Alliance livery have the Star Alliance logo painted right next to the cockpit. The logo has a diameter of approximately 70 cm.

Member airlines

Starting in 2004, Star Alliance has divided its member airlines into "full members" and "regional members". Before being accepted as a regional member, airline must be sponsored by a full member. Full members may have some affiliate airlines (that either are owned by or are in a contractual relationship with a Star Alliance full member). Affiliate airlines fall under full member umbrella in respect to the Star Alliance rules, policies and benefits. All of the affiliate airlines grant Star Alliance frequent flyer benefits, and usually feature the Star Alliance logo on their aircraft, public relation materials and advertisement. In some cases (such as Air New Zealand link airlines and BMI Regional) the branding of the "parent" full member may be so strong as to mean passengers are unaware of the affiliate's independent existence.

Full members and their affiliates

* founding members

Regional members

Future members

  • India Air India was invited to join Star Alliance on December 13, 2007, and is scheduled to be a full member by mid 2009. [39]The combined entity has also confirmed that it has gained membership within Star Alliance and will expand its own network to be one of Asia's largest carriers. The formal announcement was made at the annual Star Alliance meeting on 13 December 2007.[7][8].
  • Belgium Brussels Airlines On September 15, 2008 it was jointly announced by both airlines that Lufthansa will acquire a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines with an option to acquire the remaining 55% from 2011. As a part of this deal Brussels Airlines will join Star Alliance. A date for the airline's entry into the alliance has yet to be determined. [9]
  • United States Continental Airlines On June 19, 2008 Continental Airlines and United Airlines signed an agreement which will lead to Continental's exit from SkyTeam and entry into Star Alliance as well as, pending government approval, an antitrust immunized alliance between Continental Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada and further Star Alliance member airlines [10]
  • Brazil TAM Airlines announced on October 7, 2008 that it is the next airline in line to join Star Alliance. The mentoring airline for this admission is United Airlines and the airline is expected to join the alliance after completing the integration process, by end 2009. With this addition, South America will be once again widely covered by the Star Alliance network after previous member Varig was evicted in 2006.

Former members

Mexicana aircraft with Star Alliance livery seen in 2003. No longer a member, Mexicana left Star Alliance in 2004.

Premium status

Star Alliance has two premium levels, Silver and Gold, based on a customer's tier status in a member carrier's frequent flyer program. Each of the member and regional airlines recognizes Star Silver/Gold status, with a few exceptions (mainly pertaining to airport lounge access). The statuses have no specific requirements of their own; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines. Many member airlines also have an additional premium status beyond Gold which is not recognised across Star Alliance.

Star Alliance Silver

Star Alliance Silver status is awarded to customers who have reached a premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.

Benefits of Star Alliance Silver membership:

  • Priority reservations waitlisting
  • Priority airport stand-by

Some airlines also offer the following to Silver members:

  • Priority boarding
  • Priority airport check-in
  • Priority baggage handling
  • Preferred seating
  • Additional checked luggage allowance
  • Airport lounge access

Membership tiers granting Star Alliance Silver:

The lowest qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Silver status is 10,000 status miles earned during one calendar year with Thai's Royal Orchid Plus program [40] awarding a status valid for a full two years.

Star Alliance Gold

Star Gold logo
Star Gold logo

Star Alliance Gold status is awarded to customers who have reached a high level of a member airline's frequent flyer program.

Benefits of Star Alliance Gold membership:

  • Priority reservations waitlisting
  • Priority airport stand-by
  • Priority boarding
  • Priority airport check-in
  • Priority baggage handling
  • Additional checked luggage allowance of 20kg (or one extra piece where the piece concept applies)
  • Airport lounge access to designated Star Alliance Gold lounges on the day and at the place of departure, on presentation of a valid Star Alliance boarding pass.

Some airlines also offer the following to Gold members:

  • Preferred seating (exit seat, or even on a special section on the plane on some carriers, which provides more leg room)
  • Guaranteed seating on fully booked flights (subject to the booking class code and notice period)
  • Free upgrade (in the form of voucher/certificate or automatic upgrade upon check-in)

Membership tiers granting Star Alliance Gold:

The lowest qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Gold status is 35,000 status miles earned during one calendar year with Air Canada's Aeroplan program awarding a status valid for one year from March of the next year.

Another carrier offering a similar level for Star Alliance Gold status qualification is Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Classic Plus cardholders who earn 40,000 status miles within 12 consecutive months are eligible to become Elite members, thereby earning Star Alliance Gold status. [41] Turkish Airlines Elite status is valid for two years. Miles and Smiles members who are residents of Turkey can renew their Elite level membership by earning 30,000 qualifying miles within one year of earning elite status or 45,000 miles within two years of earning elite status. Miles and Smiles members residing outside of Turkey are eligible for elite status renewal if they accrue 25,000 miles within one year of gaining elite status or 37,500 within two years – the lowest re-qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Gold status.

Effective 1st October 2008, accumulating 40,000 miles over two calendar years in Asiana Airlines Club Programme will gain Gold status, with a renewal requirement of 40,000 miles in two calendar years.

Photo gallery of the Star Alliance livery

References

  1. ^ Facts & Figures– Star Alliance
  2. ^ Current issues arising with airline alliances: panel discussion. EUROPEAN AIR LAW ASSOCIATION. 11th Annual Conference. Recent developments in European air transport law and policy Lisbon, November 5, 1999
  3. ^ "2007 World Airlines Awards– Best Alliance". Skytrax. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  4. ^ "Star Alliance Gears Up For Terminal Moves at London Heathrow". Star Alliance. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  5. ^ a b ATW: Star Alliance has eye on India as Air China, Shanghai Airlines prepare to join
  6. ^ EgyptAir » About EgyptAir » News and Press » EgyptAir to join Star Alliance ,last update
  7. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121656481300.htm Air India joins Star Alliance– The Hindu
  8. ^ http://www.dailyindia.com/show/199544.php/Air-India-to-join-Star-Alliance Air India to join Star Alliance
  9. ^ http://konzern.lufthansa.com/en/html/presse/pressemeldungen/index.html?c=nachrichten/app/show/en/2008/09/857/HOM&s=0 Official press release
  10. ^ Continental Airlines

External links

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