Star Alliance

Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use British English Template:For Template:Infobox Airline alliance Star Alliance is an airline alliance headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Founded on 14 May 1997, it was the world's first global airline alliance.<ref name="2019figures" /> 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.

Template:Asof 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.<ref>OAG. (December 7, 2022). Leading airline alliance passenger capacity as of November 2022, by market share [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 02, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/718635/airline-alliances-market-share/</ref>

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.

History

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.<ref name="A new alliance">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="5 Airlines">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="A new alliance" /><ref name="5 Airlines" /> Advertising efforts were managed by Young & Rubicam, with a budget of $25 million (€18 million).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

VARIG, a now-defunct Brazilian airline, joined the alliance on 22 October 1997, marking its expansion into South America.<ref name="A new alliance" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand also joined, extending the network into Australia and the Pacific.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Singapore Airlines on 1 April.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> BMI (British Midland) and Mexicana joined on 1 July, bringing the alliance's membership to 13.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With Singapore Airlines' entry into the alliance, Thai Airways considered moving to Oneworld, but eventually decided to remain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That year the now-defunct BWIA West Indies Airways, which had entered an alliance with United Airlines, considered becoming a member but did not.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="Star Alliance">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="Star Alliance" />

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 of 15 cities valid for one year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Asiana Airlines joined the alliance on 1 March 2003,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Spanair on 1 May 2003,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed by LOT Polish Airlines (Poland's flag carrier) joining in October.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Around this time, Mexicana Airlines left the alliance after deciding not to renew a codeshare agreement with United Airlines, later joining Oneworld.<ref name="Star Alliance" /> US Airways joined the alliance in May 2004,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> becoming its second US-based airline. In November, Adria Airways, Blue1 and Croatia Airlines joined the alliance as its first three regional members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although Star Alliance invited Lineas Aereas Azteca in 2005 to join in mid 2007, the airline filed for bankruptcy. TAP Air Portugal joined on 14 March 2005, adding African destinations to the network.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="10th and BC">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

VARIG left the alliance on 31 January 2007,<ref name="VARIG">Template:Cite news</ref> and the two Chinese airlines, Air China and Shanghai Airlines, joined on 12 December.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 1 April 2008, Turkish Airlines joined the alliance after a 15-month integration process beginning in December 2006, becoming its 20th member.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> EgyptAir, Egypt's national airline and Star Alliance's second African carrier, joined on 11 July 2008.<ref name="EA">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Eventually on 2 May 2010, United and Continental announced they would be merging which would use the United name and the Continental branding and would be declared complete on 1 October 2010. On 26 December 2009, Brussels Airlines joined the alliance.<ref>[1]. Company.brusselsairlines.com. Retrieved on 8 October 2015.</ref>

2010s: Further expansion and second decade of operations

Four members of Star Alliance at Narita Airport in April 2012: Thai, United, Swiss and SAS (the latter is no longer part of the alliance)

Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines joined Star Alliance on 13 May 2010,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> increasing its foothold in South America.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Aegean Airlines, Greece's largest airline by number of passengers, joined on 30 June.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Shanghai Airlines left the alliance on 31 October 2010 when it merged with China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member.<ref name="bloomberg.com">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="Ethiopian">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Ethiopian Joins Star Alliance Aviation News February 2012 page 11</ref> In 2010, the alliance flew to 1,172 airports in 181 countries, with about 21,200 daily departures.<ref name=Ethiopian />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=BMI>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="UnitedMerger">Template:Cite web</ref> On 21 June, though, Avianca, TACA Airlines and Copa Airlines joined, massively increasing the alliance's Latin American presence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November, Blue1 left after becoming an affiliate of parent Scandinavian Airlines.<ref name="Blue1">Template:Cite web</ref> and Shenzhen Airlines joined, augmenting Air China's Chinese network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="TACA">Template:Cite web</ref> On 13 December, Air India was again invited to begin an integration process with Star Alliance and joined the alliance on 11 July 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Next, US Airways completed its merger with American Airlines and also left the alliance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> South African Airways' low-cost subsidiary, Mango, was initially announced to join as a Connecting Partner in Q3 2016,<ref name="Mango">Template:Cite web</ref> but has since been delayed. Juneyao Airlines, which codeshares with Shenzhen Airlines, joined as a Connecting Partner on 23 May 2017.<ref name="Juneyao">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 September 2019, Adria Airways ceased operations, and the airline exited the alliance on 2 October 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 16 November 2020, Asiana Airlines announced their plans to exit the alliance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Asiana will merge with Korean Air, the South Korean Government confirmed, in a $1.6 billion acquisition by the SkyTeam member.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 when the airline will depart Star Alliance, until Asiana will end its 38 years of operation and will be integrated into Korean Air in early 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2025, Lufthansa Group acquired a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways, a SkyTeam member.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The European Commission approved the acquisition of ITA in July 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 3 February 2025, ITA Airways announced that it was leaving SkyTeam following the acquisition by Lufthansa Group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1" /> ITA Airways will join Star Alliance during the first half of 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 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, US Bankruptcy Court approved the investment along with Stockholm District Court in 12 June 2024 and 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SkyTeam290424">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>In Brief Airliner World June 2024 page 7</ref>

Member airlines and affiliates

Template:AnchorMembers and affiliates

Template:Note label
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Template:Note label Template:Clear

Future members and their affiliates

Member	Joining	Member Affiliates
Template:Flagicon ITA Airways<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>	First half of 2026	Template:N/a

Connecting Partners

Connecting Partner	Joined	Affiliates
Template:Flagicon Juneyao Air<ref name=Juneyao />	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon 9 Air

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2025, Austrian Federal Railways became the second intermodal partner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Former members

Former member	Joined	Exited	Affiliates	Notes
Template:Flagicon Adria Airways	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon Darwin Airline	Ceased operations on 30 September 2019.
Template:Flagicon Ansett Australia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Nowrap Template:Flagicon Hazelton Airlines Template:Flagicon Kendell Airlines Template:Flagicon Skywest Airlines Template:Flagicon Ansett New Zealand	Suffered financial collapse on 12 September 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.
Template:Flagicon Blue1	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template: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.<ref name=Blue1 /><ref name="CityJet">Template:Cite press release</ref>
Template:Nowrap	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon BMI Regional Template:Flagicon Bmibaby	Merged into British Airways, an International Airlines Group division and a Oneworld member, on 20 April 2012.<ref name=BMI />
Template:Flagicon Continental Airlines	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Nowrap Template:Flagicon Continental Express Template:Flagicon Continental Micronesia	Merged with United Airlines on 3 March 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagicon Mexicana	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Shanghai Airlines	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon China United Airlines	Acquired by China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member, on 31 October 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Spanair	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon AeBal	Ceased operations on 27 January 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:FlagiconTemplate:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon Scandinavian Airlines	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon SAS Connect Template:Flagicon SAS Link	Founding member; partly acquired by Air France–KLM, two SkyTeam members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon TACA Airlines	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon TACA Regional	Merged with Avianca on 27 May 2013; renamed Avianca El Salvador.
Template:Flagicon TAM Airlines	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon TAM Paraguay	Merged with LAN Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.
Template:Flagicon US Airways	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon US Airways Express Template:Flagicon US Airways Shuttle	Merged with American Airlines, a Oneworld member, on 30 March 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon VARIG	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Flagicon Nordeste Template:Flagicon Rio Sul Template:Flagicon PLUNA	Ceased operations on 20 July 2006.<ref name=VARIG />

Former affiliates of current members

Member	Former affiliate	Joined	Exited	Notes
Template:Flagicon Air Canada	Template:Flagicon Air Alliance	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air Canada Express.<ref name="ACExpress">Template:Cite news</ref>
	Template:Flagicon Air BC	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air Canada Express.<ref name="ACExpress" />
	Template:Flagicon Template:Nowrap	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air Canada.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
	Template:Flagicon Air Nova	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air Canada Express.<ref name=ACExpress />
	Template:Flagicon Air Ontario	Template:Center	Template:Center
	Template:Flagicon Zip	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air Canada.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagicon Air New Zealand	Template:Flagicon Air Nelson	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Air New Zealand.
	Template:Flagicon Mount Cook Airlines	Template:Center	Template:Center
Template:Flagicon All Nippon Airways	Template:Flagicon Air Next	Template:Center	Template:Center	Merged with ANA Wings.<ref name="ANA">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:Flagicon Air Nippon	Template:Center	Template:Center
Template:Flagicon Avianca	Template:Flagicon Avianca Brasil	Template:Center	Template:Center	Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection.
	Template:Flagicon Avianca Perú	Template:Center	Template:Center	Ceased operations when Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagicon Austrian Airlines	Template:Flagicon Lauda Air	Template:Center	Template:Center	Replaced by Austrian Airlines operations, now known as Austrian myHoliday.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:Flagicon Slovak Airlines	Template:Center	Template:Center	Ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy.
	Template:Flagicon Tyrolean Airways	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Austrian Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Brussels Airlines	Template:Flagicon Korongo Airlines	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Brussels Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon EgyptAir	Template:Flagicon EgyptAir Express	Template:Center	Template:Center	Merged with EgyptAir.
Template:Flagicon LOT Polish Airlines	Template:Flagicon Centralwings	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into LOT Polish Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Lufthansa	Template:Flagicon Lufthansa Italia	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Lufthansa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Singapore Airlines	Template:Flagicon Silkair	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Singapore Airlines. Some routes transferred to Scoot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:Flagicon Tigerair	Template:Center	Template:Center	Merged into Scoot.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagicon South African Airways	Template:Flagicon South African Express	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into South African Airways.
Template:Flagicon Swiss International Air Lines	Template:Flagicon Template:Nowrap	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Swiss International Air Lines after being dissolved.
	Template:Flagicon Swiss Private Aviation	Template:Center	Template:Center	Absorbed into Swiss International Air Lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Thai Airways International	Template:Flagicon Thai Smile	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Thai Airways.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Turkish Airlines	Template:Flagicon AnadoluJet	Template:Center	Template:Center	Re-established as AJet.
	Template:Flagicon Cyprus Turkish Airlines	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into Turkish Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon United Airlines	Template:Flagicon United Shuttle	Template:Center	Template:Center	Became part of United Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:Flagicon TED	Template:Center	Template:Center	Folded into United Airlines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Customer services

Template:AnchorFrequent 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 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:Convert (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 their Gold Members to long-haul international passengers; Gold members from other carriers are welcome in US lounges run by United on all itineraries.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />

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)
Template:Flagicon Austrian Airlines	Miles & More	Frequent Traveller	Senator HON Circle
Template:Flagicon Brussels Airlines
Template:Flagicon Croatia Airlines
Template:Flagicon LOT Polish Airlines
Template:Flagicon Lufthansa
Template:Flagicon Lufthansa City Airlines
Template:Flagicon Swiss International Air Lines
Template:Flagicon Aegean Airlines	Miles+Bonus	Miles+Bonus Silver	Miles+Bonus Gold
Template:Flagicon Air Canada	Aeroplan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	25K 35K	50K 75K Super Elite 100K
Template:Flagicon Air China	PhoenixMiles	Silver	Gold Platinum
Template:Flagicon Shenzhen Airlines
Template:Flagicon Air India	Maharaja Club	Silver	Gold Platinum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Air New Zealand	Airpoints	Silver	Gold Elite
Template:Flagicon All Nippon Airways	ANA Mileage Club	Bronze	Super Flyers Diamond Platinum
Template:Flagicon Asiana Airlines	Asiana Club	Gold	Diamond Diamond Plus Platinum
Template:Flagicon Avianca	LifeMiles	Silver	Gold Diamond Cenit
Template:Flagicon Copa Airlines	ConnectMiles	ConnectMilesSilver	Gold Platinum Presidential Platinum
Template:Flagicon Egyptair	EgyptAir Plus	Silver	Gold Elite Platinum
Template:Flagicon Ethiopian Airlines	ShebaMiles	Silver	Gold Platinum
Template:Flagicon EVA Air	Infinity MileageLands	Silver	Gold Diamond
Template:Flagicon Singapore Airlines	KrisFlyer	Elite Silver	Elite Gold PPS Club Solitaire PPS Club
Template:Flagicon South African Airways	Voyager	Silver	Gold Platinum
Template:Flagicon TAP Air Portugal	Miles&Go	Silver	Gold Navigator
Template:Flagicon Thai Airways International	Royal Orchid Plus	Silver	Gold Platinum
Template:Flagicon Turkish Airlines	Miles & Smiles	Classic Plus	Elite Elite Plus
Template:Flagicon United Airlines	MileagePlus	Premier Silver	Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K Global Services

Codeshares

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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."<ref name="staralliance.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Livery and logo

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 like Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, which printed Star Alliance logo behind cockpit, and airliner with narrow space between the cockpit and the cabin door like the McDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80 and Comac C909, which printed the Star Alliance logo under the cockpit or on the first cabin door.

On August 20, 2008, Spanair Flight 5022, a McDonell Douglas MD-82 painted in the Star Alliance livery, crashed shortly after takeoff from Madrid–Barajas Airport, killing 154.

• 
  A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in Star Alliance livery with white tail.
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  A former All Nippon Airways Boeing 767-300 wearing an earlier Star Alliance livery.
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  An SAS A320neo in regular livery showing the Star Alliance logo behind the cockpit windows.
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  A United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER in Star Alliance livery.
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  An Air India Boeing 787-8 in Star Alliance livery.
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  EC-HFP, the plane that crashed as Spanair Flight 5022, in Star Alliance livery.
• 
  An Air New Zealand Airbus a321neo registered ZK-OYB wearing a full black Star Alliance livery

Award and recognition

On 24 June 2024, Star Alliance was voted for two top awards by Skytrax; 2024 World's Best Airline Alliance and Best Airline Alliance Lounge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website