Star Alliance

Star Alliance is an airline alliance headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. Founded on 14 May 1997, it was the world's first global airline alliance. Star Alliance has 25 member airlines that operate a combined fleet of over 5,000 aircraft, serving more than 1,300 airports in 195 countries on more than 19,000 daily departures. As of April 2024, it is the world's largest airline alliance by market share, holding 17.4 percent compared to 13.7 percent for SkyTeam and 11.9 percent for Oneworld. The alliance has a two-tier rewards program, Silver and Gold, with incentives including priority boarding and upgrades. Like other airline alliances, Star Alliance airlines share airport terminals (known as co-locations), and many member planes are painted in the alliance's livery.

Infobox

Launch date

14 May 1997; 28 years ago (1997-05-14)

Full members

Non-voting members

40 affiliates

Pending members

Destination airports

1,300

Destination countries

195

Annual passengers (M)

762

Annual RPK (G)

1,739

Fleet size

5,033

Headquarters

Frankfurt, Germany

Management

mw- Theo Panagiotoulias (CEO)Michael Rousseau (chairman)

Alliance slogan

Together. Better. Connected.

Website

staralliance.com

Tables

· Member airlines and affiliates › Members and affiliates

Aegean Airlines

Member

Aegean Airlines

Joined

30 June 2010

Member affiliates

Olympic Air

Air Canada .mw- [A]

Member

Air Canada .mw- [A]

Joined

14 May 1997

Member affiliates

Air Canada Express[B] Air Canada Jetz Air Canada Rouge

Air China

Member

Air China

Joined

12 December 2007

Member affiliates

—

Air India

Member

Air India

Joined

11 July 2014

Member affiliates

—

Air New Zealand

Member

Air New Zealand

Joined

3 May 1999

Member affiliates

—

All Nippon Airways

Member

All Nippon Airways

Joined

15 October 1999

Member affiliates

ANA Wings

Asiana Airlines

Member

Asiana Airlines

Joined

28 March 2003

Member affiliates

—

Austrian Airlines[E]

Member

Austrian Airlines[E]

Joined

26 March 2000

Member affiliates

—

Avianca

Member

Avianca

Joined

21 June 2012

Member affiliates

Avianca Costa Rica Avianca Ecuador Avianca El SalvadorAvianca Express Avianca GuatemalaAvianca Honduras

Brussels Airlines[E]

Member

Brussels Airlines[E]

Joined

9 December 2009

Member affiliates

—

Copa Airlines

Member

Copa Airlines

Joined

21 June 2012

Member affiliates

Copa Airlines Colombia

Croatia Airlines

Member

Croatia Airlines

Joined

18 November 2004

Member affiliates

—

Egyptair

Member

Egyptair

Joined

11 July 2008

Member affiliates

—

Ethiopian Airlines

Member

Ethiopian Airlines

Joined

13 December 2011

Member affiliates

—

EVA Air

Member

EVA Air

Joined

18 June 2013

Member affiliates

—

LOT Polish Airlines

Member

LOT Polish Airlines

Joined

26 October 2003

Member affiliates

—

Lufthansa[A][E]

Member

Lufthansa[A][E]

Joined

14 May 1997

Member affiliates

Lufthansa City Airlines Lufthansa CityLine

Shenzhen Airlines

Member

Shenzhen Airlines

Joined

29 November 2012

Member affiliates

—

Singapore Airlines

Member

Singapore Airlines

Joined

1 April 2000

Member affiliates

—

South African Airways

Member

South African Airways

Joined

10 April 2006

Member affiliates

—

Swiss International Air Lines[E]

Member

Swiss International Air Lines[E]

Joined

1 April 2006

Member affiliates

—

TAP Air Portugal

Member

TAP Air Portugal

Joined

14 March 2005

Member affiliates

TAP Express[C]

Thai Airways International[A]

Member

Thai Airways International[A]

Joined

14 May 1997

Member affiliates

—

Turkish Airlines

Member

Turkish Airlines

Joined

1 April 2008

Member affiliates

—

United Airlines[A]

Member

United Airlines[A]

Joined

14 May 1997

Member affiliates

United Express[D]

Member	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	—
Air India	11 July 2014	—
Air New Zealand	3 May 1999	—
All Nippon Airways	15 October 1999	ANA Wings
Asiana Airlines	28 March 2003	—
Austrian Airlines[E]	26 March 2000	—
Avianca	21 June 2012	Avianca Costa Rica Avianca Ecuador Avianca El SalvadorAvianca Express Avianca GuatemalaAvianca Honduras
Brussels Airlines[E]	9 December 2009	—
Copa Airlines	21 June 2012	Copa Airlines Colombia
Croatia Airlines	18 November 2004	—
Egyptair	11 July 2008	—
Ethiopian Airlines	13 December 2011	—
EVA Air	18 June 2013	—
LOT Polish Airlines	26 October 2003	—
Lufthansa[A][E]	14 May 1997	Lufthansa City Airlines Lufthansa CityLine
Shenzhen Airlines	29 November 2012	—
Singapore Airlines	1 April 2000	—
South African Airways	10 April 2006	—
Swiss International Air Lines[E]	1 April 2006	—
TAP Air Portugal	14 March 2005	TAP Express[C]
Thai Airways International[A]	14 May 1997	—
Turkish Airlines	1 April 2008	—
United Airlines[A]	14 May 1997	United Express[D]

· Member airlines and affiliates › Future members and their affiliates

ITA Airways

Member

ITA Airways

Joining

First half of 2026

Member Affiliates

—

Member	Joining	Member Affiliates
ITA Airways	First half of 2026	—

· Member airlines and affiliates › Connecting Partners

Juneyao Air

Connecting Partner

Juneyao Air

Joined

23 May 2017

Affiliates

9 Air

Connecting Partner	Joined	Affiliates
Juneyao Air	23 May 2017	9 Air

· Member airlines and affiliates › Former members

Adria Airways

Former member

Adria Airways

Joined

18 November 2004

Exited

30 September 2019

Affiliates

Darwin Airline

Notes

Ceased operations on 30 September 2019.

Ansett Australia

Former member

Ansett Australia

Joined

3 May 1999

Exited

12 September 2001

Affiliates

Aeropelican Hazelton Airlines Kendell Airlines Skywest Airlines Ansett New Zealand

Notes

Suffered financial collapse on 12 September 2001. 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

Former member

Blue1

Joined

3 November 2004

Exited

1 November 2012

Affiliates

—

Notes

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.

British Midland International

Former member

British Midland International

Joined

1 July 2000

Exited

20 April 2012

Affiliates

BMI Regional Bmibaby

Notes

Merged into British Airways, an International Airlines Group division and a Oneworld member, on 20 April 2012.

Continental Airlines

Former member

Continental Airlines

Joined

27 October 2009

Exited

3 March 2012

Affiliates

Continental Connection Continental Express Continental Micronesia

Notes

Merged with United Airlines on 3 March 2012.

Mexicana

Former member

Mexicana

Joined

1 July 2000

Exited

31 March 2004

Affiliates

Aerocaribe

Notes

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.

Shanghai Airlines

Former member

Shanghai Airlines

Joined

12 December 2007

Exited

31 October 2010

Affiliates

China United Airlines

Notes

Acquired by China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member, on 31 October 2010.

Spanair

Former member

Spanair

Joined

1 May 2003

Exited

27 January 2012

Affiliates

AeBal

Notes

Ceased operations on 27 January 2012.

Scandinavian Airlines

Former member

Scandinavian Airlines

Joined

14 May 1997

Exited

31 August 2024

Affiliates

SAS Connect SAS Link

Notes

Founding member; partly acquired by Air France–KLM, two SkyTeam members.

TACA Airlines

Former member

TACA Airlines

Joined

21 June 2012

Exited

27 May 2013

Affiliates

TACA Regional

Notes

Merged with Avianca on 27 May 2013; renamed Avianca El Salvador.

TAM Airlines

Former member

TAM Airlines

Joined

13 May 2010

Exited

30 March 2014

Affiliates

TAM Paraguay

Notes

Merged with LAN Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.

US Airways

Former member

US Airways

Joined

4 May 2004

Exited

30 March 2014

Affiliates

US Airways Express US Airways Shuttle

Notes

Merged with American Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.

VARIG

Former member

VARIG

Joined

22 October 1997

Exited

31 January 2007

Affiliates

Nordeste Rio Sul PLUNA

Notes

Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.

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. 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	—	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.
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.
Continental Airlines	27 October 2009	3 March 2012	Continental Connection Continental Express Continental Micronesia	Merged with United Airlines on 3 March 2012.
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.
Shanghai Airlines	12 December 2007	31 October 2010	China United Airlines	Acquired by China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member, on 31 October 2010.
Spanair	1 May 2003	27 January 2012	AeBal	Ceased operations on 27 January 2012.
Scandinavian Airlines	14 May 1997	31 August 2024	SAS Connect SAS Link	Founding member; partly acquired by Air France–KLM, two SkyTeam members.
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.
VARIG	22 October 1997	31 January 2007	Nordeste Rio Sul PLUNA	Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.

· Member airlines and affiliates › Former affiliates of current members

Air Canada

Member

Air Canada

Former affiliate

Air Alliance

Joined

1997

Exited

1999

Notes

Folded into Air Canada Express.

Air BC

Member

Air BC

Former affiliate

1997

Joined

2001

Exited

Folded into Air Canada Express.

Air Canada Tango

Member

Air Canada Tango

Former affiliate

2001

Joined

2004

Exited

Folded into Air Canada.

Air Nova

Member

Air Nova

Former affiliate

1997

Joined

2001

Exited

Folded into Air Canada Express.

Air Ontario

Member

Air Ontario

Former affiliate

1997

Joined

2001

Zip

Member

Zip

Former affiliate

2002

Joined

2004

Exited

Folded into Air Canada.

Air China

Member

Air China

Former affiliate

Air China Inner Mongolia

Joined

2014

Exited

2025

Notes

Folded into Air China

Air New Zealand

Member

Air New Zealand

Former affiliate

Air Nelson

Joined

1999

Exited

2019

Notes

Folded into Air New Zealand.

Mount Cook Airlines

Member

Mount Cook Airlines

Former affiliate

1999

Joined

2019

All Nippon Airways

Member

All Nippon Airways

Former affiliate

Air Next

Joined

2004

Exited

2010

Notes

Merged with ANA Wings.

Air Nippon

Member

Air Nippon

Former affiliate

1999

Joined

2012

Avianca

Member

Avianca

Former affiliate

Avianca Brasil

Joined

2015

Exited

2019

Notes

Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection.

Avianca Perú

Member

Avianca Perú

Former affiliate

2012

Joined

2020

Exited

Ceased operations when Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Austrian Airlines

Member

Austrian Airlines

Former affiliate

Lauda Air

Joined

2000

Exited

2013

Notes

Replaced by Austrian Airlines operations, now known as Austrian myHoliday.

Slovak Airlines

Member

Slovak Airlines

Former affiliate

2005

Joined

2007

Exited

Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy.

Tyrolean Airways

Member

Tyrolean Airways

Former affiliate

2000

Joined

2015

Exited

Folded into Austrian Airlines.

Brussels Airlines

Member

Brussels Airlines

Former affiliate

Korongo Airlines

Joined

2009

Exited

2015

Notes

Folded into Brussels Airlines.

EgyptAir

Member

EgyptAir

Former affiliate

EgyptAir Express

Joined

2006

Exited

2019

Notes

Merged with EgyptAir.

LOT Polish Airlines

Member

LOT Polish Airlines

Former affiliate

Centralwings

Joined

2004

Exited

2009

Notes

Folded into LOT Polish Airlines.

Lufthansa

Member

Lufthansa

Former affiliate

Lufthansa Italia

Joined

2009

Exited

2011

Notes

Folded into Lufthansa.

Singapore Airlines

Member

Singapore Airlines

Former affiliate

Silkair

Joined

1989

Exited

2021

Notes

Folded into Singapore Airlines. Some routes transferred to Scoot.

Tigerair

Member

Tigerair

Former affiliate

2003

Joined

2017

Exited

Merged into Scoot.

South African Airways

Member

South African Airways

Former affiliate

South African Express

Joined

2006

Exited

2020

Notes

Folded into South African Airways.

Swiss International Air Lines

Member

Swiss International Air Lines

Former affiliate

Swiss Global Air Lines

Joined

2007

Exited

2018

Notes

Folded into Swiss International Air Lines after being dissolved.

Swiss Private Aviation

Member

Swiss Private Aviation

Former affiliate

2007

Joined

2011

Exited

Absorbed into Swiss International Air Lines.

Thai Airways International

Member

Thai Airways International

Former affiliate

Thai Smile

Joined

2011

Exited

2024

Notes

Folded into Thai Airways.

Turkish Airlines

Member

Turkish Airlines

Former affiliate

AnadoluJet

Joined

2008

Exited

2024

Notes

Re-established as AJet.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines

Member

Cyprus Turkish Airlines

Former affiliate

2008

Joined

2010

Exited

Folded into Turkish Airlines.

United Airlines

Member

United Airlines

Former affiliate

United Shuttle

Joined

1997

Exited

2001

Notes

Became part of United Airlines.

TED

Member

TED

Former affiliate

2004

Joined

2009

Exited

Folded into United Airlines.

Member	Former affiliate	Joined	Exited	Notes
Air Canada	Air Alliance	1997	1999	Folded into Air Canada Express.
	Air BC	1997	2001	Folded into Air Canada Express.
	Air Canada Tango	2001	2004	Folded into Air Canada.
	Air Nova	1997	2001	Folded into Air Canada Express.
	Air Ontario	1997	2001	Folded into Air Canada Express.
	Zip	2002	2004	Folded into Air Canada.
Air China	Air China Inner Mongolia	2014	2025	Folded into Air China
Air New Zealand	Air Nelson	1999	2019	Folded into Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand	Mount Cook Airlines	1999	2019	Folded into Air New Zealand.
All Nippon Airways	Air Next	2004	2010	Merged with ANA Wings.
All Nippon Airways	Air Nippon	1999	2012	Merged with ANA Wings.
Avianca	Avianca Brasil	2015	2019	Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection.
Avianca	Avianca Perú	2012	2020	Ceased operations when Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Austrian Airlines	Lauda Air	2000	2013	Replaced by Austrian Airlines operations, now known as Austrian myHoliday.
	Slovak Airlines	2005	2007	Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy.
	Tyrolean Airways	2000	2015	Folded into Austrian Airlines.
Brussels Airlines	Korongo Airlines	2009	2015	Folded into Brussels Airlines.
EgyptAir	EgyptAir Express	2006	2019	Merged with EgyptAir.
LOT Polish Airlines	Centralwings	2004	2009	Folded into LOT Polish Airlines.
Lufthansa	Lufthansa Italia	2009	2011	Folded into Lufthansa.
Singapore Airlines	Silkair	1989	2021	Folded into Singapore Airlines. Some routes transferred to Scoot.
Singapore Airlines	Tigerair	2003	2017	Merged into Scoot.
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 International Air Lines	Swiss Private Aviation	2007	2011	Absorbed into Swiss International Air Lines.
Thai Airways International	Thai Smile	2011	2024	Folded into Thai Airways.
Turkish Airlines	AnadoluJet	2008	2024	Re-established as AJet.
Turkish Airlines	Cyprus Turkish Airlines	2008	2010	Folded into Turkish Airlines.
United Airlines	United Shuttle	1997	2001	Became part of United Airlines.
United Airlines	TED	2004	2009	Folded into United Airlines.

· Customer services › Frequent flyer programs, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status

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