STAR ALLIANCE DEVELOPS COMMON IT MOBILE PLATFORM

FRANKFURT, Germany - August 27th, 2009 - In line with today’s increasing use of mobile communication devices, Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, has developed a Common IT Mobile Platform. This globally accessible airline mobile portal now enables member carriers who have not offered such services in the past to provide mobile services to individual travellers.

EGYPTAIR, South African Airways and TAP Portugal are the first Star Alliance member carriers to launch their individual mobile portals under this new initiative. Each airline has designed their portal to their own specification, using common technological standards provided by Star Alliance.

"The Star Alliance Common IT Mobile Platform is a further example of the advantages provided by a standardised solution within the alliance. With one technological base now in place, more carriers will be able to offer mobile services, as the integration between airline systems and the mobile portal is simple and flexible. Furthermore the alliance solution simplifies the inclusion of future services across all carriers using the mobile platform," said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance.

The mobile portal is specifically aimed at providing information and service to the customer on the move. The mobile services are being rolled out in various stages and presently encompass offerings such as flight schedules, real time flight departures and arrivals, lounge information, currency converter, weather and information on destinations.

More interactive services, such as Frequent Flyer Programme status, notification in case of irregularities, online check-in with seat maps for seat selection and mobile boarding passes with 2D bar codes will be made available in the coming weeks.

About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance received the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award in 2008 and was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and by Skytrax in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. The members are Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Aegean Airlines, Air India, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines and TAM have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 17,000 daily flights to 916 destinations in 160 countries.