 | |
| Launch date | 14 May 1997; 28 years ago (1997-05-14) |
|---|---|
| Full members | 25 |
| Pending members | 1 |
| Destination airports | 1,300[1] |
| Destination countries | 195[1] |
| Annual passengers (M) | 762[1] |
| AnnualRPK (G) | 1,739[1] |
| Fleet size | 5,033[1] |
| Headquarters | Frankfurt, Germany[2] |
| Management | |
| Alliance slogan | Together. Better. Connected. |
| Website | staralliance.com |
Star Alliance is anairline alliance headquartered inFrankfurt, Germany.[5] Founded on 14 May 1997, it was the world's first global airline alliance.[1] Star Alliance has 25 member airlines that operate a combined fleet of over 5,000aircraft, serving more than 1,300 airports in 195 countries on more than 19,000 daily departures.
As of April 2024,[update] it is the world's largest airline alliance by market share, holding 17.4 percent compared to 13.7 percent forSkyTeam and 11.9 percent forOneworld.[6]
The alliance has a two-tier rewards program, Silver and Gold, withincentives including priority boarding and upgrades. Like other airline alliances, Star Alliance airlines share airport terminals (known as co-locations), and many member aircraft are painted in the alliance'slivery.
The Star Alliance was announced on 14 May 1997 by five airlines from three continents:Air Canada,Lufthansa,Scandinavian Airlines,Thai Airways International andUnited Airlines.[7][8] The group adopted a shared star-shaped logo, with each point representing a founding member. Its first slogan was “The Airline Network for Earth,” and it aimed to connect passengers to major cities worldwide.[7][8] Advertising efforts were managed by Young & Rubicam, with a budget of $25 million (€18 million).[9]
VARIG, a now-defunct Brazilian airline, joined the alliance on 22 October 1997, marking its expansion into South America.[7][10] Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand also joined, extending the network into Australia and the Pacific.[11] With these additions, the alliance served 720 destinations in 110 countries and operated a combined fleet of 1,650 aircraft.All Nippon Airways became the second Asian airline to join on 15 October 1999.[12][13]
During the early 2000s, a number of airlines joined Star Alliance; theAustrian Airlines Group (Austrian Airlines,Tyrolean Airways andLauda Air) joined on 26 March 2000[14][15] andSingapore Airlines on 1 April.[16]BMI (British Midland) andMexicana joined on 1 July, bringing the alliance's membership to 13.[17] With Singapore Airlines' entry into the alliance, Thai Airways considered moving toOneworld, but eventually decided to remain.[18] The addition of BMI madeLondon 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-defunctBWIA 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 toQantas (aOneworld 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 in 15 cities, valid for one year.[22]
Asiana Airlines joined the alliance on 1 March 2003,[23]Spanair on 1 May 2003,[24] followed byLOT Polish Airlines (Poland'sflag carrier) joining in October.[25]Around this time, Mexicana Airlines left the alliance after deciding not to renew acodeshare agreement with United Airlines, later joiningOneworld.[21]US Airways joined the alliance in May 2004,[26] becoming its second US-based airline. In November,Adria Airways,Blue1 andCroatia Airlines joined the alliance as its first three regional members.[27]
Although Star Alliance invitedLineas Aereas Azteca to join in 2005, the airline filed for bankruptcy in mid-2007.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, andSouth 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 withUNESCO, theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and theRamsar 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 andShanghai 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 leavingSkyTeam 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] Eventually on 2 May 2010, United and Continental announced they would be merging under the United name; the merger was completed on 1 October 2010. On 26 December 2009,Brussels Airlines joined the alliance.[39]
Brazilian carrierTAM 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 withChina Eastern Airlines, aSkyTeam member.[43] On 29 September, the chief executive board approvedEthiopian 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, andBMI left after being acquired byInternational Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company ofOneworld membersIberia andBritish Airways. BMI was integrated into British Airways.[47][48] In North America, Continental merged withUnited 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 parentScandinavian Airlines.[51] andShenzhen Airlines joined, augmenting Air China's Chinese network.[52] Taiwanese carrierEVA Air then joined on 18 June 2013, and afterTACA's integration intoAvianca, 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 carrierTAM Airlines merged withLAN Airlines to becomeLATAM Airlines Group, leaving the alliance without a presence in the world's fifth-largest country.[56] Next,US Airways completed its merger withAmerican Airlines and also left the alliance.[57] Both parent companies stayed withOneworld. On 24 June, though, the alliance finally approvedAir India, which joined on 11 July, leaving the alliance at 27 members.[58][59][60][61]
Future expansion centers around the addition ofConnecting 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 Varig and 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 withShenzhen 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]
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 ofThai Airways International following bankruptcy.[71]
On 16 November 2020,Asiana Airlines announced its plans to exit the alliance.[72]Asiana will merge with Korean Air, theSouth Korean Government confirmed, in a $1.6 billion acquisition by theSkyTeam member.[73] After theUS Department of Justice approved the merger in December 2024, the merger was completed andAsiana Airlines became a subsidiary ofKorean Air. No date was given for when the airline will depart Star Alliance, until Asiana ends its 38 years of operation and will be integrated into Korean Air in early 2027.[74]
In January 2025, Lufthansa Group acquired a 41 percent stake inITA Airways, aSkyTeam member.[75][76] The European Commission approved the acquisition of ITA in July 2024.[77] On 3 February 2025,ITA Airways announced that it was leaving SkyTeam following the acquisition by Lufthansa Group.[78][79] ITA Airways will join Star Alliance during the first half of 2026.[80][81]
In October 2023, as a part of the restructuring of Scandinavian Airlines' parent companySAS Group,Air France-KLM, along with theGovernment of Denmark and two financial firms (Castlelake and Lind Invest), announced plans to invest in Scandinavian Airlines. In March 2024, the US Bankruptcy Court approved the investment, along with the Stockholm District Court on 12 June 2024 and the European Commission on 28 June 2024. As a result of the investment,Scandinavian Airlines left Star Alliance on 31 August 2024 and joined SkyTeam on 1 September 2024.[82][83][84]
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AFounding member.
BAir Canada Express flights are operated byJazz Aviation andPAL Airlines.
CTAP Express flights are operated byPortugália Airlines.
DUnited Express flights are operated byCommuteAir,GoJet Airlines,Mesa Airlines,Republic Airways andSkyWest Airlines.
EPart of the Lufthansa Group, which ownsAustrian Airlines,Brussels Airlines,Lufthansa andSwiss International Air Lines.
| Member | Joining | Member Affiliates |
|---|---|---|
 ITA Airways[79] | First half of 2026 | N/a |
| Connecting Partner | Joined | Affiliates |
|---|---|---|
 Juneyao Air[64] | 23 May 2017 | 9 Air |
Since August 2022, the German railway providerDeutsche Bahn has been the firstintermodal partner of the Star Alliance, whose airlines have been able to assign their own flight numbers for trains.[89][90] In March 2025,Austrian Federal Railways became the second intermodal partner.[91]
| Intermodal Partner | Joined |
|---|---|
 Deutsche Bahn | 1 August 2022 |
 Austrian Federal Railways | 19 March 2025 |
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| Former member | Joined | Exited | Affiliates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Adria Airways | 18 November 2004 | 30 September 2019 |  Darwin Airline | Ceased operations on 30 September 2019. |
 Ansett Australia | 3 May 1999 | 12 September 2001 | AeropelicanHazelton AirlinesKendell AirlinesSkywest Airlines Ansett New Zealand | Suffered financial collapse on 12 September 2001.[92] Ansett resumed operations on 1 October 2001, but would permanently cease operations on 4 March 2002. In 2002, Hazelton and Kendell merged to becomeRex Airlines. |
 Blue1 | 3 November 2004 | 1 November 2012 | N/a | Left the alliance on 1 November 2012 afterSAS took over mainline operations, was a member affiliate of Scandinavian Airlines (2012–2015), and is now a part ofCityJet.[51][93] |
 British Midland International | 1 July 2000 | 20 April 2012 | BMI RegionalBmibaby | Merged intoBritish Airways, anInternational Airlines Group division and aOneworld member, on 20 April 2012.[47] |
 Continental Airlines | 27 October 2009 | 3 March 2012 | Continental ConnectionContinental ExpressContinental Micronesia | Merged withUnited Airlines on 3 March 2012.[94] |
 Mexicana | 1 July 2000 | 31 March 2004 | Aerocaribe | Left the alliance in 2004 after deciding not to renew a codeshare alliance withUnited Airlines, opting instead to codeshare withAmerican Airlines and then joinedOneworld in 2009. Ceased operations on 28 August 2010.[95] |
| Shanghai Airlines | 12 December 2007 | 31 October 2010 | China United Airlines | Acquired byChina Eastern Airlines, aSkyTeam member, on 31 October 2010.[96] |
 Spanair | 1 May 2003 | 27 January 2012 | AeBal | Ceased operations on 27 January 2012.[97] |
   Scandinavian Airlines | 14 May 1997 | 31 August 2024 | Blue1 SAS ConnectSAS Link | Founding member; partly acquired byAir France–KLM, twoSkyTeam members.[98] |
 TACA Airlines | 21 June 2012 | 27 May 2013 | TACA Regional | Merged withAvianca on 27 May 2013; renamedAvianca El Salvador. |
 TAM Airlines | 13 May 2010 | 30 March 2014 |  TAM Paraguay | Merged withLAN Airlines, aOneworld member, on 30 March 2014. |
| US Airways | 4 May 2004 | 30 March 2014 | US Airways ExpressUS Airways Shuttle | Merged withAmerican Airlines, aOneworld member, on 30 March 2014.[99] |
| VARIG | 22 October 1997 | 31 January 2007 | NordesteRio Sul PLUNA | Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.[34] |
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| Member | Former affiliate | Joined | Exited | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Air Canada | Air Alliance | 1997 | 1999 | Folded into Air Canada Express.[100] |
| Air BC | 1997 | 2001 | Folded into Air Canada Express.[100] | |
| Air Canada Tango | 2001 | 2004 | Folded into Air Canada.[101] | |
| Air Nova | 1997 | 2001 | Folded into Air Canada Express.[100] | |
| Air Ontario | 1997 | 2001 | ||
| Zip | 2002 | 2004 | Folded into Air Canada.[102] | |
| Air China | Air China Inner Mongolia | 2014 | 2025 | Folded into Air China[103] |
| Air New Zealand | Air Nelson | 1999 | 2019 | Folded into Air New Zealand. |
| Mount Cook Airlines | 1999 | 2019 | ||
 All Nippon Airways | Air Next | 2004 | 2010 | Merged withANA Wings.[104] |
| Air Nippon | 1999 | 2012 | ||
 Avianca | Avianca Brasil | 2015 | 2019 | Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection. |
 Avianca Honduras | 2013 | 2018 | Suspended operations in 2018 and retired its fleet in 2020. Currently dormant. | |
 Avianca Perú | 2012 | 2020 | Ceased operations when Avianca filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.[105] | |
| Austrian Airlines | Lauda Air | 2000 | 2013 | Replaced by Austrian Airlines operations, now known as Austrian myHoliday.[106] |
 Slovak Airlines | 2005 | 2007 | Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy. | |
| Tyrolean Airways | 2000 | 2015 | Folded into Austrian Airlines.[107] | |
 Brussels Airlines |  Korongo Airlines | 2009 | 2015 | Folded into Brussels Airlines.[108] |
 Copa Airlines | Copa Airlines Colombia | 2010 | 2020 | Ceased operations in 2020 and folded into Copa Airlines. Its routes are now operated byWingo. |
 EgyptAir | EgyptAir Express | 2006 | 2019 | Merged with EgyptAir. |
 LOT Polish Airlines | Centralwings | 2004 | 2009 | Folded into LOT Polish Airlines.[109] |
| Lufthansa | Lufthansa Italia | 2009 | 2011 | Folded into Lufthansa.[110] |
 Singapore Airlines | Silkair | 1989 | 2021 | Folded into Singapore Airlines. Some routes transferred toScoot.[111] |
| Tigerair | 2003 | 2017 | Merged intoScoot.[112] | |
 South African Airways | South African Express | 2006 | 2020 | Folded into South African Airways. |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Swiss Global Air Lines | 2007 | 2018 | Folded into Swiss International Air Lines after being dissolved. |
| Swiss Private Aviation | 2007 | 2011 | Absorbed into Swiss International Air Lines.[113] | |
 Thai Airways International | Thai Smile | 2011 | 2024 | Folded into Thai Airways.[114] |
 Turkish Airlines | AnadoluJet | 2008 | 2024 | Re-established asAJet. |
 Cyprus Turkish Airlines | 2008 | 2010 | Folded into Turkish Airlines.[115] | |
| United Airlines | United Shuttle | 1997 | 2001 | Became part of United Airlines.[116] |
| TED | 2004 | 2009 | Folded into United Airlines.[117] |
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 to 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 andStar 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.[118][119]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 its Gold Members to long-haul international passengers; Gold members from other carriers are welcome in US lounges run by United on all itineraries.[119] 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.[120][119]
| 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) |
| Austrian Airlines | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| Brussels Airlines | |||
 Croatia Airlines | |||
| LOT Polish Airlines | |||
| Lufthansa | |||
| Lufthansa City Airlines | |||
| Swiss International Air Lines | |||
 Aegean Airlines | Miles+Bonus | Miles+Bonus Silver | Miles+Bonus Gold |
| Air Canada | Aeroplan[121] | 25K 35K | 50K 75K Super Elite 100K |
| Air China | PhoenixMiles | Silver | Gold Platinum |
| Shenzhen Airlines | |||
 Air India | Maharaja Club | Silver | Gold Platinum[122] |
| Air New Zealand | Airpoints | Silver | Gold Elite |
| All Nippon Airways | ANA Mileage Club | Bronze | Super Flyers Diamond Platinum |
 Asiana Airlines | Asiana Club | Gold | Diamond Diamond Plus Platinum |
| Avianca | LifeMiles | Silver | Gold Diamond Cenit |
| Copa Airlines | ConnectMiles | ConnectMilesSilver | Gold Platinum Presidential Platinum |
| Egyptair | EgyptAir Plus | Silver | Gold Elite Platinum |
 Ethiopian Airlines | ShebaMiles | Silver | Gold Platinum |
 EVA Air | Infinity MileageLands | Silver | Gold Diamond |
| Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer | Elite Silver | Elite Gold PPS Club Solitaire PPS Club |
| South African Airways | Voyager | Silver | Gold Platinum |
 TAP Air Portugal | Miles&Go | Silver | Gold Navigator |
| Thai Airways International | Royal Orchid Plus | Silver | Gold Platinum |
| Turkish Airlines | Miles & Smiles | Classic Plus | Elite Elite Plus |
| United Airlines | MileagePlus | Premier Silver | Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K Global Services |
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."[123]
The common use of codeshare agreements led to suspicions of anti-competitive behavior. TheEuropean 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.[124]
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.[125] 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 likeBoeing 747 andAirbus A380, which printed Star Alliance logo behind cockpit, and airliner with narrow space between the cockpit and the cabin door like theMcDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80 andComac C909, which printed the Star Alliance logo under the cockpit or on the first cabin door.
On August 20, 2008,Spanair Flight 5022, aMcDonell Douglas MD-82 painted in the Star Alliance livery, crashed shortly after takeoff fromMadrid–Barajas Airport, killing 154.
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On 24 June 2024, Star Alliance was voted for two top awards bySkytrax;2024World'sBest Airline Alliance andBest Airline Alliance Lounge.[126]
Theo Panagiotoulias is the CEO of Star Alliance and drives its overall strategic direction and growth. The Alliance aims to facilitate a seamless travel experience across an extensive global network, together with rewards and recognition for frequent international travellers. Theo has more than 25 years of commercial and operational expertise in the airline and travel industry, and has worked in Australia, China, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
Members ofStar Alliance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current members | | ||||
| Joint partners |
| ||||
| Future members | |||||
| Former members | |||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
