Star Alliance

1997–1999: Founding and early years

The Star Alliance was announced on 14 May 1997 by five airlines from three continents: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United 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]

2000s: Expansion and first decade

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 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 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 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, 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.

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] 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]

2010s: Further expansion and second decade of operations

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 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 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

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 its 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 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 in ITA Airways, a SkyTeam 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 company SAS Group, Air France-KLM, along with the Government 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]

Members and affiliates

More information Member, Joined ...

Member[85][86]	Joined	Member affiliates
Aegean Airlines	30 June 2010	Olympic Air
Air Canada[A]	14 May 1997	Air Canada Express[B] Air Canada Jetz Air Canada Rouge
Air China	12 December 2007	—N/a
Air India	11 July 2014	—N/a
Air New Zealand	3 May 1999	—N/a
All Nippon Airways	15 October 1999	ANA Wings
Asiana Airlines	28 March 2003	—N/a
Austrian Airlines[E]	26 March 2000	—N/a
Avianca	21 June 2012	Avianca Costa Rica[87] Avianca Ecuador[88] Avianca El Salvador Avianca Express Avianca Guatemala
Brussels Airlines[E]	9 December 2009	—N/a
Copa Airlines	21 June 2012	—N/a
Croatia Airlines	18 November 2004	—N/a
Egyptair	11 July 2008	—N/a
Ethiopian Airlines	13 December 2011	—N/a
EVA Air	18 June 2013	—N/a
LOT Polish Airlines	26 October 2003	—N/a
Lufthansa[A][E]	14 May 1997	Lufthansa City Airlines Lufthansa CityLine
Shenzhen Airlines	29 November 2012	—N/a
Singapore Airlines	1 April 2000	—N/a
South African Airways	10 April 2006	—N/a
Swiss International Air Lines[E]	1 April 2006	—N/a
TAP Air Portugal	14 March 2005	TAP Express[C]
Thai Airways International[A]	14 May 1997	—N/a
Turkish Airlines	1 April 2008	—N/a
United Airlines[A]	14 May 1997	United Express[D]

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^AFounding member.
^BAir Canada Express flights are operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines.
^CTAP Express flights are operated by Portugália Airlines.
^DUnited Express flights are operated by CommuteAir, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines.
^EPart of the Lufthansa Group, which owns Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.

Future members and their affiliates

More information Member, Joining ...

Member	Joining	Member Affiliates
ITA Airways[79]	First half of 2026	—N/a

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Connecting partners

More information Connecting Partner, Joined ...

Connecting Partner	Joined	Affiliates
Juneyao Air[64]	23 May 2017	9 Air

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Intermodal partners

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.^[89][90] In March 2025, Austrian Federal Railways became the second intermodal partner.^[91]

More information Intermodal Partner, Joined ...

Intermodal Partner	Joined
Deutsche Bahn	1 August 2022
Austrian Federal Railways	19 March 2025

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Former members

More information Former member, Joined ...

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	Aeropelican Hazelton Airlines Kendell Airlines Skywest 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 become Rex Airlines.
Blue1	3 November 2004	1 November 2012	—N/a	Left the alliance on 1 November 2012 after SAS took over mainline operations, was a member affiliate of Scandinavian Airlines (2012–2015), and is now a part of CityJet.[51][93]
British Midland International	1 July 2000	20 April 2012	BMI Regional Bmibaby	Merged into British Airways, an International Airlines Group division and a Oneworld member, on 20 April 2012.[47]
Continental Airlines	27 October 2009	3 March 2012	Continental Connection Continental Express Continental Micronesia	Merged with United 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 with United Airlines, opting instead to codeshare with American Airlines and then joined Oneworld in 2009. Ceased operations on 28 August 2010.[95]
Shanghai Airlines	12 December 2007	31 October 2010	China United Airlines	Acquired by China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam 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 Connect SAS Link	Founding member; partly acquired by Air France–KLM, two SkyTeam members.[98]
TACA Airlines	21 June 2012	27 May 2013	TACA Regional	Merged with Avianca on 27 May 2013; renamed Avianca El Salvador.
TAM Airlines	13 May 2010	30 March 2014	TAM Paraguay	Merged with LAN Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.
US Airways	4 May 2004	30 March 2014	US Airways Express US Airways Shuttle	Merged with American Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.[99]
VARIG	22 October 1997	31 January 2007	Nordeste Rio Sul PLUNA	Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.[34]

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Former affiliates of current members

More information Member, Former affiliate ...

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 with ANA 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 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-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 by Wingo.
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 to Scoot.[111]
	Tigerair	2003	2017	Merged into Scoot.[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	Connecting partner from 2020,[114] folded into Thai Airways.[115]
Turkish Airlines	AnadoluJet	2008	2024	Re-established as AJet.
	Cyprus Turkish Airlines	2008	2010	Folded into Turkish Airlines.[116]
United Airlines	United Shuttle	1997	2001	Became part of United Airlines.[117]
	TED	2004	2009	Folded into United Airlines.[118]

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Frequent flyer programs, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status

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 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.^[119][120] 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.^[120] 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.^[121][120]

More information Frequent flyer program list by airline and Star Alliance status equivalents, Airline ...

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[122]	25K 35K	50K 75K Super Elite 100K
Air China	PhoenixMiles	Silver	Gold Platinum
Shenzhen Airlines
Air India	Maharaja Club	Silver	Gold Platinum[123]
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

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Codeshares

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."^[124]

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.^[125]