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Star Alliance

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 71.135.164.241 (talk) at 01:45, 18 February 2013 (Full members and their member and non-member affiliates: US Airways (to exit with American Airlines merger)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Star Alliance
Launch date14 May 1997
Full members28
Non-voting members29 affiliates
Pending members1
Destination airports1,329
Destination countries194
Annual passengers (M)678.5
Annual RPK (G)990.24
Fleet size4,570
HeadquartersFrankfurt am Main Airport, Frankfurt, Germany
ManagementMark Schwab (CEO),[1] Calin Rovinescu
Alliance sloganThe Way The Earth Connects
Websitewww.staralliance.com


Star Alliance is the world's first and largest global airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (near Frankfurt Airport).[2] Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines. Star Alliance has since grown considerably and now has 28 member airlines with more than 21,100 daily departures combined. These flights reach 1,329 airports in 194 countries, with an annual passenger number of 678.5 million.

The CEO of the alliance is Mark Schwab,[1] replacing former CEO Jaan Albrecht who was named the winner of the Tony Jannus Award for distinguished leadership in the field of commercial aviation in 2010.[3]

Membership history

1997–1999: The first three years

Lufthansa is one of the founding members of the Star Alliance.

On 14 May 1997, five airlines from three continentsUnited Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Thai Airways International and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) came together to launch Star Alliance.[4][5] The newly established alliance selected Young & Rubicam Advertising to increase awareness of the new alliance, with a budget of $25 million, (€18 million).[6] The five airlines shared the traditional star logo from the beginning with the five points representing the five founding airlines. The alliance also adopted their first slogan "The Airline Network for Earth",[4] with the goal being to have "an alliance that will take passengers to every major city on earth".[5]

Varig joined the Star Alliance network,[4][7] on 22 October 1997 making it the alliance's first "new" member and its gateway airline into South America.

In March 1999, Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand both became members of the alliance, connecting the alliance to Australia and the Pacific.[8] Upon the joining of the two carriers, Star Alliance served 720 destinations in 110 countries with a combined fleet of 1,650 aircraft.

Toward the end of 1999, The Austrian Airlines Group decided to apply for membership in the Star Alliance network, planning to become a full member in the new millennium. Finally, in October 1999, All Nippon Airways joined the alliance and became the group's second Asian airline.[9]

2000: New millennium and major expansion

The new millennium started off with the significant admission of The Austrian Airlines Group (Austrian Airlines, Tyrolean Airways and Lauda Air) in March. Singapore Airlines joined the next month as a full member on 1 April[10][11] giving the alliance an even stronger foothold in the Asian market. On 1 July BMI (British Midland) and Mexicana Airlines simultaneously joined Star Alliance, bringing the total membership tally up to 13.[12] The joining of BMI made London Heathrow the only European hub with two competing alliances. During the year, Emirates considered joining Star Alliance, but would later opt not to join.[13] The same year, now defunct BWIA West Indies Airways who had entered an alliance with United Airlines considered becoming a member. BWIA however never joined the alliance.[14] In 2000 the alliance also opened its first three business centers in Los Angeles, Frankfurt, and Bangkok as well as announcing the completion of its full-time Alliance Management Team (AMT) – the executive body of the partnership.

In 2001, Ansett Australia left the alliance due to bankruptcy which subsequently handed over a majority of the Australian market to Qantas, a rival Oneworld Alliance member. During this year Star Alliance also announced the appointment of their new CEO, Jaan Albrecht.

2003 saw the admission of three new airlines to the alliance. Asiana Airlines joined on 1 March,[15] LOT Polish Airlines, the official flag carrier of Poland, joined in October,[16] and Spanair, Spain's low cost carrier, joined on 1 May.[17]

In 2004 Croatia Airlines, Blue1, and Adria Airways inaugurated the alliance's regional network. US Airways joined the alliance after a one-year joining process which started in June 2003[18] becoming the alliance's second US-based airline. Mexicana Airlines left Star Alliance after deciding not to renew a codeshare deal with United Airlines and later joined Oneworld.

In 2005, Star Alliance invited Lineas Aereas Azteca to join the alliance in mid-2007. Star Alliance saw the admission of TAP Portugal on 14 May, thereby adding new African destinations to Star Alliance's network.[19][20] After merging with US Airways under the US Airways name, America West Airlines joined, working through US Airways original membership, but would never be considered an individual member.

In 2006 South African Airways became the first African airline to become a Star Alliance member, as well as raising the alliance's membership tally up to 18.[21] On 7 April, at a ceremony in Zurich, Swiss International Air Lines joined the alliance as the 19th member.[22] SWISS' predecessor, Swissair was due to join the alliance in 2001, but the airline went bankrupt in October of that year.

Tenth anniversary

In May 2007, Star Alliance and its members celebrated the alliance's 10th anniversary. During the previous decade, Star Alliance had grown from a membership of five airlines to include 17 carriers around the world.[23] Each day the Star Alliance's members have a combined daily departure of 16,000 to 855 destinations in 155 countries, serving 406 million passengers annually. As part of the celebration and to increase awareness of the alliance, Star Alliance launched a global consumer promotion.[24] Prizes included round-the-world air tickets, the paying of related expenses, as well as monetary prizes.[25] On the same day Star Alliance also launched the Biosphere Connections, a partnership with three international organisations – UNESCO, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Ramsar Convention On Wetlands – to promote environmental sustainability.[23][26]

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 world-wide air travellers use one of the three airline alliances.

— Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance[27]

Other significant events which took place included the ejection of Varig from the alliance on 31 January.[28] In addition to this, two major Chinese airlines, Air China and Shanghai Airlines, joined on 12 December.

2008–2010: Expansion and 2nd decade of operations

On 1 April 2008, Turkish Airlines joined the alliance after an 18-month integration process since December 2006, becoming the seventh European airline[29] in the alliance, which had thus reached a total of 20 members. EgyptAir, the official airline of Egypt, joined on 11 July 2008,[30] becoming the second African airline. The airline joined following its 75th anniversary the previous year, an event which EgyptAir used to subsequently relaunch its image and brand.[30]

On 27 October 2009, Continental Airlines became the 25th full member of the alliance after leaving SkyTeam on 24 October. At a joining ceremony in New York City, Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, said, "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 rumoured that the switch was part of Continental's initial move in its plan of a United-Continental merge.[31] Brussels Airlines (on 9 December) also become a member.

On 13 May 2010, leading Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines was admitted following a joining ceremony in São Paulo,[32] thereby furthering the alliance's foothold in South America, which is currently considered by SkyTeam as an important market.[33] Aegean Airlines, Greece's largest airline in terms of passengers carried, joined on 30 June.[34] Fellow Greek airline Olympic Air originally intended to also join the alliance if their merger with Aegean Airlines was approved by the EU, but in February 2011 the merger proposal was rejected and as of the moment Olympic is no longer slated to join.

Shanghai Airlines left the alliance on 31 October 2010, due to its merger with China Eastern Airlines, a future member of Star Alliance's rival SkyTeam.[35] On 29 September, the Chief Executive Board approved Ethiopian Airlines's application for membership, with the airline to become the 30th member.[36]

As of September 2010, Star Alliance flies to 1,172 airports in 181 countries, with approximately 21,200 daily departures.[36]

Expansion during 2011 and beyond

After further delays, Air India failed to meet the unanimous consensus of member airlines and instead paved way for the entry of Jet Airways to the alliance.[37][38] In 2010, Colombian Avianca & Salvadorian TACA Airlines were invited into Star Alliance.[39] During the same year, former SkyTeam affiliate member Copa Airlines is also expected to be admitted.[40][41]

On 6 July 2011, Shenzhen Airlines was formally accepted as future member. Joining in late 2012 the airline will be the alliance's second member in the People's Republic of China following the departure of Shanghai Airlines in 2010.[42]

With its entry on 13 December 2011 Ethiopian Airlines adds to Star Alliance's network five new countries and 24 unserved destinations. In the beginning of January 2012 Continental Airlines formally left the alliance after finalizing its merger with United Airlines. Shortly after this on 27 January 2012, longtime member Spanair left the alliance after suffering financial collapse and ceasing operations. Soon after, bmi also left on 20 April 2012 due to acquisition by International Airlines Group (IAG), a parent company of British Airways, a Oneworld member. Together these consecutive exits brought the total number of member airlines down to 25.[43]

On 29 March 2012, it was announced that EVA Air would join Star Alliance in 2013[44]

On 21 June 2012 Avianca, TACA Airlines and Copa Airlines have officially joined Star Alliance becoming the alliance's 26th, 27th and 28th members.[45]

On 29 November 2012 Shenzhen Airlines officially joined Star Alliance becoming the 29th member and strengthening the alliance's network in China.[46]

Member airlines

Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines are the five founding members of the alliance.
Members
Singapore Airlines, Egyptair, Air New Zealand, Brussels Airlines, Avianca and US Airways are some airlines of Star Alliance that shows the spanning of the alliance over 6 continents.

Full members and their member and non-member affiliates

Member airline Joined Member affiliates Non-member affiliates
Slovenia Adria Airways 2004
Greece Aegean Airlines 2010
Canada Air Canada[A] 1997 Canada Air Canada Express[B] operated by:[47][48]

Canada Air Georgian
Canada EVAS Air
Canada Jazz Aviation
Canada Sky Regional Airlines
Canada Air Canada Rouge
Canada Air Canada Jetz

China Air China 2007 Macau Air Macau

China Dalian Airlines[49]
China Shandong Airlines

New Zealand Air New Zealand 1999 New Zealand Air New Zealand Link[B] operated by:

New Zealand Air Nelson
New Zealand Eagle Airways
New Zealand Mount Cook Airline

Japan All Nippon Airways 1999 Japan Air Japan

Japan ANA Wings

Japan AirAsia Japan

Japan Peach

South Korea Asiana Airlines 2003 South Korea Air Busan
Austria Austrian Airlines 2000 Austria Austrian Arrows[B] operated by:

Austria Tyrolean Airways
Austria Lauda Air

Colombia Avianca[F] 2012 Ecuador AeroGal

Brazil Avianca Brazil
Colombia Helicol

Colombia Tampa Cargo
Belgium Brussels Airlines 2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo Korongo Airlines
Panama Copa Airlines 2012 Colombia Copa Airlines Colombia
Croatia Croatia Airlines 2004
Egypt EgyptAir 2008 Egypt EgyptAir Express Egypt Air Cairo

Egypt Air Sinai
Egypt Smart Aviation Company

Ethiopia Ethiopian Airlines 2011 Togo ASKY Airlines
Poland LOT Polish Airlines 2003 Poland EuroLOT
Poland LOT Charters
Germany Lufthansa[A] 1997 Germany Lufthansa Regional[B] operated by:

Italy Air Dolomiti[C]
Germany Augsburg Airways
Germany Eurowings[C]
Germany Lufthansa CityLine[C]

Germany Germanwings

Turkey SunExpress[D]

Denmark
Norway Scandinavian Airlines[A]
Sweden
1997 Finland Blue1 Greenland Air Greenland

Estonia Estonian Air
Norway Widerøe

China Shenzhen Airlines 2012 China Henan Airlines

China Kunming Airlines

Singapore Singapore Airlines 2000 Singapore Scoot

Singapore SilkAir
Singapore Singapore Airlines Cargo
Singapore Tiger Airways
Australia Tiger Airways Australia

South Africa South African Airways 2006 South Africa Airlink

South Africa South African Express

Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo Express

South Africa Mango

Switzerland Swiss International Air Lines 2006 Switzerland Swiss European Air Lines Switzerland Edelweiss Air
El Salvador TACA Airlines[F] 2012 Costa Rica LACSA

Peru TACA Peru
El Salvador TACA Regional[B] operated by:
Nicaragua La Costeña

Brazil TAM Airlines[H] 2010 Brazil Pantanal Linhas Aéreas

Paraguay TAM Airlines (Paraguay)

Brazil TAM Cargo
Portugal TAP Portugal 2005 Portugal Portugalia

Portugal PGA Express

Thailand Thai Airways International[A] 1997 Thailand Thai Smile Thailand Nok Air
Turkey Turkish Airlines 2008 Turkey Anadolu Jet

Turkey SunExpress[D]
Bosnia and Herzegovina B&H Airlines

United States United Airlines[A] 1997 United States United Express[B] operated by:

United States Cape Air
United States Chautauqua Airlines
United States Colgan Air
United States CommutAir
United States ExpressJet Airlines
United States GoJet Airlines
United States Mesa Airlines
United States Shuttle America
United States Silver Airways
United States SkyWest Airlines
United States Trans States Airlines

United States US Airways (to exit with American Airlines merger) 2004 United States US Airways Express[B] operated by:

United States Air Wisconsin
United States Chautauqua Airlines
United States Colgan Air
United States Mesa Airlines
United States Piedmont Airlines[E]
United States PSA Airlines[E]
United States Republic Airlines
United States SkyWest Airlines
United States Trans States Airlines
United States US Airways Shuttle

A Founding member.
B Airlines operating under the Air Canada Express, Air New Zealand Link, Austrian Arrows, Lufthansa Regional, TACA Regional, United Express and US Airways Express brands are not necessarily members of Star Alliance. However, flights are operated on behalf of the respective member airlines, carry their designator code and are Star Alliance flights.
C Members of Lufthansa Regional that are fully owned by Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
D Jointly owned by Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.
E Wholly owned By US Airways Group.
F Listed as separate airlines, but considered one member by the alliance.

Former member airlines and their member affiliates

Former member airline Joined Exited Affiliates
Australia Ansett Australia[A]
1999
2001
Australia Aeropelican Air Services
Australia Hazelton Airlines
Australia Kendell Airlines
Australia Skywest Airlines
Finland Blue1[B]
2004
2012
United Kingdom British Midland International[C]
2000
2012
United Kingdom bmi regional
United Kingdom bmi baby
United States Continental Airlines[D]
2009
2012
United States Continental Connection operated by:
United States Cape Air
United States Colgan Air
United States CommutAir
United States Gulfstream International Airlines
United States Continental Express operated by:
United States Chautauqua Airlines
United States ExpressJet Airlines
Guam Continental Micronesia
Mexico Mexicana[E]
2000
2004
Mexico Aerocaribe
China Shanghai Airlines[F]
2007
2010
China China United Airlines
Spain Spanair[G]
2003
2012
Brazil Varig[H]
1997
2007
Brazil Nordeste
Brazil Rio Sul
Uruguay PLUNA

A Collapsed on 12 September 2001.
B Left the alliance on 1 November 2012 after SAS took over mainline operations, now a member affiliate of Scandinavian Airlines.
C Left the alliance on 20 April 2012 as a result of its merger with International Airlines Group. IAG's subsidiaries British Airways and Iberia are Oneworld members, bmi merged into British Airways on 27 October 2012.
D Merged with United Airlines on 3 March 2012.
E Left the alliance in 2004 after deciding not to renew a codeshare alliance with United Airlines, opting instead to codeshare with American Airlines, and joined Oneworld on 10 November 2009.
F Left the alliance in 2010 as a result of its merger with China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member.
G Collapsed on 27 January 2012.
H Suspended its alliance membership on 31 January 2007 due to major restructuring, being involuntarily ejected, and failing to meet minimum qualifications.

Former member affiliate Joined Exited Member affiliate of
Canada Air Canada Tango[B]
2001
2004
Canada Air Canada
Canada Air Nova
1997
2001
Canada Air Canada
Canada Air Ontario
1997
2001
Canada Air Canada
Spain AeBal (operating as Spanair Link)
2003
2008
Spain Spanair
Italy Lufthansa Italia
2009
2011
Germany Lufthansa
United States United Shuttle[A]
1997
2001
United States United Airlines
Canada Zip
2002
2004
Canada Air Canada

A United Shuttle's operations ceased and became part of United Airlines.
B Air Canada Tango was dissolved and now is part of Air Canada.

Future member airlines

EVA Air is expected to become a full member in 2013
Future member airline Joining Member affiliates Non-member affiliates
Taiwan EVA Air
2013[50]
Taiwan Uni Air[51]

Possible future members

At the annual board meeting on 11 December 2008 in Chicago former Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht revealed that the alliance is targeting up to 50 members. New management strategies, such as regional and global leaderships are being examined in order to handle a significantly larger alliance.[52]

Airlines having applied for membership/been invited to join

The following airlines have reportedly applied for membership or have been invited to join. However, there has been no official announcement yet, indicating that the application/invitation is pending at present.

Possible future member airline Affiliates Star Alliance
codeshare partners
Star Alliance
frequent-flyer programme partners
Notes
India Jet Airways India Jet Airways Konnect
India Jet Lite
Air Canada
All Nippon Airways
Brussels Airlines
United Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Austrian Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Lufthansa
South African Airways
Swiss International Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways
In May 2011 Lufthansa Passage CEO Carsten Spohr announced that Star Alliance had invited Jet Airways to join the alliance as second Indian member after Air India. He said Star had extended an open arm to both airlines and Jet Airways could join the alliance any time. Spohr indicated that Jet Airways was going full steam ahead and could be ready to join in a few months.[53]

In July 2012, Jet Airways officially sought government approval to join Star Alliance.[54]

Airlines being courted/considering membership

The following airlines are reportedly interested in joining the alliance or being courted by Star Alliance. These airlines may not decide to become a member.

Possible Future Member Airline Affiliates Star Alliance
codeshare partners
Star Alliance
frequent-flyer programme partners
Notes
Kazakhstan Air Astana Asiana Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Adria Airways
Austrian Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Croatia Airlines
Lufthansa
Swiss International Air Lines
In May 2011 Peter Foster, President of Air Astana, announced that the Kazakh flag carrier will join an airline alliance sooner or later, identifying Star Alliance and oneworld as options.[55]
France Air Austral French media reported on 28 February 2011 that Air Austral, which just reached an agreement with Thai Airways International, could join Star Alliance within the next few years. According to information from within Air Austral the airline could join by May 2012.[56]
Malta Air Malta Austrian Airlines[57]
Brussels Airlines
Lufthansa
Swiss International Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
Lufthansa[58]
Swiss International Air Lines
In an interview published on 1 June 2009 former Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht confirmed membership talks between the alliance and Air Malta.[59]
Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean Airlines Jamaica Air Jamaica According to chairman of the board of Caribbean Airlines George Nicholas III, Caribbean Airlines is pursuing a relationship with Star Alliance in an effort to support Jamaican hoteliers.[60]
Luxembourg Luxair Austrian Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
All Star Alliance members Lufthansa owns a 13% stake in the company.[61] The airline has also adopted Lufthansa's 'Miles & More' frequent flyer program as their official loyalty program since 29 March 2009.[62][63]
Pakistan Pakistan International Airlines Thai Airways International In January 2011 PIA Pakistan International Airlines and Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines announced plans to form a joint venture on flights to Europe and North America operated by Turkish Airlines and flights within Asia operated by PIA.[64] According to officials of the Pakistani flag carrier this joint venture may act as a first step for Pakistan International Airlines towards becoming a member of Star Alliance.[65][66]
Russia UTair Aviation Russia UTair Express
Russia Vostok
Ukraine UTair-Ukraine
Turkish Airlines[67] On 19 May 2011 Alexei Budnik, UTair’s head of fleet management, announced that the Russian carrier was holding negotiations over entering Star Alliance.[68]

Customer service

Codeshare flights between these airlines are, for the most part, seamless. This tight cooperation led to suspicions of anti-competitive behaviour, 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,[69] 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.

The alliance developed the "Regional" concept in 2004, which helped Star Alliance penetrate individual markets with the regional participation of smaller carriers. Regional Star Alliance members had to be sponsored by an existing full Star Alliance member. However, Star Alliance has stopped designating airlines as "Regional" members and now refers to all the 25 airlines as just "members".[70]

Star Alliance members now fly over 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries with a fleet of 4,025 aircraft. Its members carried a total of 627.52 million passengers with a turnover of US$156.8 billion, €145 billion. The alliance's market share is 28% of the global market based on revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), which is greater than the combined market share of all airlines that are not in any of the three major alliances. All Star Alliance carriers combined employ over 405,000 pilots, flight attendants, and other staff. Star Alliance was voted best airline alliance in the Skytrax 2007 World Airline Awards.[71]

Members' hubs

Member airlines Hub airports Focus city airports
Adria Airways Slovenia Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport Serbia Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari
Aegean Airlines Greece Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
Greece Heraklion International Airport
Cyprus Larnaca International Airport
Greece Thessaloniki International Airport
Greece Corfu International Airport
Greece Rhodes International Airport
Air Canada Canada Calgary International Airport
Canada Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
Canada Toronto Pearson International Airport
Canada Vancouver International Airport
Canada Edmonton International Airport
Canada Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Canada Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Canada Winnipeg International Airport
Air China China Beijing Capital International Airport
China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
China Shanghai Pudong International Airport
China Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
China Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
China Tianjin Binhai International Airport
China Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
Air New Zealand New Zealand Auckland Airport
New Zealand Christchurch Airport
United Kingdom London Heathrow Airport
Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport
United States Los Angeles International Airport
New Zealand Wellington International Airport
All Nippon Airways Japan Kansai International Airport
Japan Haneda Airport (Domestic)
Japan Narita International Airport (International)
Japan Osaka International Airport
Japan Chūbu Centrair International Airport
Japan New Chitose Airport
Asiana Airlines South Korea Gimpo International Airport (Domestic)
South Korea Incheon International Airport (International)
South Korea Gimhae International Airport
South Korea Jeju International Airport
Austrian Airlines Austria Vienna International Airport Austria Innsbruck Airport
Austria Salzburg Airport
Avianca Colombia El Dorado International Airport
Brazil São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport
Ecuador Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Colombia Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport
Brazil Brasília International Airport
Colombia Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport
United States John F. Kennedy International Airport
Colombia José María Córdova International Airport
Ecuador José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
United States Miami International Airport
Colombia Rafael Núñez International Airport
Brazil Santos Dumont Airport
Brussels Airlines Belgium Brussels Airport
Copa Airlines Panama Tocumen International Airport Colombia El Dorado International Airport
Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport
Guatemala La Aurora International Airport
Nicaragua Augusto C. Sandino International Airport
United States Miami International Airport
Croatia Airlines Croatia Zagreb Airport Croatia Dubrovnik Airport
Croatia Split Airport
EgyptAir Egypt Cairo International Airport Egypt Borg El Arab Airport
Egypt Hurghada International Airport
Egypt Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport
Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopia Bole International Airport
EVA Air (Future) Taiwan Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Taiwan Kaohsiung International Airport
Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport
LOT Polish Airlines Poland Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport Poland Copernicus Airport Wrocław
Poland Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport
Poland John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice
Poland Katowice International Airport
Poland Poznań-Ławica Airport
Poland Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport
Lufthansa Germany Düsseldorf International Airport
Germany Frankfurt Airport
Germany Munich Airport
Germany Berlin Tegel Airport
Germany Hamburg Airport
Germany Stuttgart Airport
Scandinavian Airlines Denmark Copenhagen Airport
Norway Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Sweden Stockholm-Arlanda Airport
Norway Bergen Airport, Flesland
Sweden Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
Norway Stavanger Airport, Sola
Norway Trondheim Airport, Værnes
Shenzhen Airlines China Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport China Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
China Nanjing Lukou International Airport
China Nanning Wuxu International Airport
China Shenyang Taoxian International Airport
China Sunan Shuofang International Airport
Singapore Airlines Singapore Singapore Changi Airport
South African Airways South Africa OR Tambo International Airport South Africa Cape Town International Airport
Swiss International Air Lines Switzerland Zürich Airport France EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
Switzerland Geneva International Airport
TACA Airlines El Salvador El Salvador International Airport
Peru Jorge Chávez International Airport
Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport
Guatemala La Aurora International Airport
United States Miami International Airport
Nicaragua Augusto C. Sandino International Airport
TAM Airlines Brazil Brasília International Airport
Brazil Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport
Brazil São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport
Brazil São Paulo-Congonhas Airport
TAP Portugal Portugal Lisbon Portela Airport
Portugal Porto Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
Portugal Madeira Airport
Thai Airways International Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport Thailand Chiang Mai International Airport
South Korea Incheon International Airport
Thailand Phuket International Airport
Turkish Airlines Turkey Atatürk International Airport Turkey Adnan Menderes Airport
Turkey Antalya Airport
Turkey Esenboğa International Airport
United Airlines Guam Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport
United States Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
United States Denver International Airport
United States George Bush Intercontinental Airport
United States Los Angeles International Airport
Japan Narita International Airport
United States Newark Liberty International Airport
United States O'Hare International Airport
United States San Francisco International Airport
United States Washington Dulles International Airport
US Airways United States Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
United States Philadelphia International Airport
United States Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
United States Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Co-location (move under one roof)

Star Alliance members Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines (with Star Alliance livery), and Air China (in the field) using Terminal 3-E of Beijing Capital International Airport as part of the Move Under One Roof program to co-locate alliance members.
City Airport IATA Terminal Exceptions
United States Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ATL Concourse D
Spain Barcelona Barcelona International Airport BCN Terminal 1
China Beijing Beijing Capital International Airport PEK Terminal 3
Egypt Cairo Cairo International Airport CAI Terminal 3
United States Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORD Terminals 1, 2 & 5
United States Cleveland Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CLE Concourse C
United States Dallas Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport DFW Terminal D & E
India Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport DEL Terminal 3
United States Denver Denver International Airport DEN Concourse B
United States Detroit Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport DTW North Terminal
United Arab Emirates Dubai Dubai International Airport DXB Terminal 1
Canada Edmonton Edmonton International Airport YEG South Terminal
Germany Frankfurt Frankfurt International Airport FRA Terminal 1 "Star Alliance Terminal"
Germany Hamburg Hamburg Airport HAM Terminal 2
Finland Helsinki Helsinki Airport HEL Terminal 1
United Kingdom London London Heathrow Airport LHR Terminal 1 & 3
Mexico Mexico City Mexico City International Airport MEX Terminal 1
United States Miami Miami International Airport MIA Concourse J
Germany Munich Munich Airport MUC Terminal 2
France Paris Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG Terminal 1
Brazil Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport GIG Terminal 2
United States San Diego San Diego International Airport SAN Terminal 2
United States San Francisco San Francisco International Airport SFO Terminal 1
– US Airways
Terminal 3
– United Airlines
International Terminal (Boarding Area G)
South Korea Seoul Incheon International Airport ICN Concourse A (West Wing)
China Shanghai Shanghai Pudong International Airport PVG Terminal 2
Sweden Stockholm Stockholm-Arlanda Airport ARN Terminal 5
Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport HND International Terminal
Japan Tokyo Narita International Airport NRT Terminal 1 – South Wing
Canada Toronto Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ Terminal 1
Austria Vienna Vienna International Airport VIE Austrian Star Alliance Terminal (Check-in 3)
Poland Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport WAW Terminal 2

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
  • Waived fees for 1st and 2nd checked bags
  • Airport lounge access

Star Alliance Gold

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 20 kg (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)
  • United and US Airways restrict 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 and US Airways on all itineraries. Unlike in Oneworld and Skyteam, United and US Airways Star Gold members are admitted to the lounges of foreign alliance carriers (such as Lufthansa's Senator lounges at US airports) even if traveling domestically.

Qualifying tiers by airline

Member airline Mileage program Star Silver
(qualifying tiers)
Star Gold
(qualifying tiers)
Adria
Austrian Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Croatia Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
Swiss International Air Lines
Miles & More Frequent Traveller Senator
HON Circle
Aegean Airlines Miles & Bonus Blue Gold
Air Canada Aeroplan[72] Prestige 25K
Elite 35K
Elite 50K
Elite 75K
Super Elite 100K
Air China
Shenzhen Airlines
Phoenix Miles Silver Gold
Platinum
Air New Zealand Airpoints Silver Gold
Gold Elite
All Nippon Airways ANA Mileage Club Bronze Super Flyers
Diamond
Platinum
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club Gold Diamond
Diamond Plus
Platinum
Avianca
Taca Airlines
LifeMiles Silver Gold
Diamond
Copa Airlines
United Airlines
MileagePlus Premier Silver Premier Gold
Premier Platinum
Premier 1K
Global Services
EgyptAir EgyptAir Plus Silver Gold
Platinum
Ethiopian Airlines Sheba Miles Silver Club Gold Club
EVA Air (Future) Evergreen Club TBA TBA
Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus Silver Gold
Pandion
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Silver Elite Gold
PPS Club
Solitaire PPS Club
South African Airways Voyager Silver Gold
Platinum
TAM Airlines Fidelidade Blue Red
Black
TAP Portugal Victoria Silver Winner Gold Winner
Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus Silver Gold, Platinum
Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Classic Plus Elite
Elite Plus
US Airways Dividend Miles Silver Preferred Gold Preferred
Platinum Preferred
Chairman's Preferred
An Adria Airways Bombardier CRJ200 painted in Star Alliance livery.

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 is the only exception, formerly opting to paint the tails of the aircraft with the airline's logo; and now applying the Star Alliance logo sans the black tailfin painting, leaving it white. Asiana Airlines was the first Star Alliance member to paint their aircraft in the current Star Alliance livery.[73] Aircraft painted in the airlines' own livery have the Star Alliance logo painted behind the cockpit. The Star Alliance logo has a diameter of approximately 70 cm (28 in).[citation needed] Currently, 80 aircraft are painted in Star Alliance livery.

References

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