Press Releases 2006

VARIG to leave Star Alliance
Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense S.A. (VARIG Brazilian Airlines or “old” VARIG) will no longer be a member of Star Alliance as of 31 January 2007. This decision was prompted by the current restructuring of the airline in which “old” VARIG continued to be a Star Alliance member, operating a reduced flight schedule on behalf of a new company, VRG Linhas Aéreas S.A. (“New” VARIG).

Turkish Airlines to join Star Alliance
Star Alliance Chief Executive Board approves membership application
The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has today voted to accept the membership application of Turkish Airlines.

Star Alliance launches New Website
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, today unveiled its new www.staralliance.com website. The most obvious change to the site is its new look and feel, with a fresher and more modern design. The new layout has the site structured into three different lobbies, one for travellers, one for business partners and one for the media. In order to better serve the needs of the ever more diverse alliance customer, the Star Alliance website is now available in seven different languages – English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.

Star Alliance voted best airline at Business Traveller Awards
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, was voted Best Airline Alliance at the Business Traveller Awards held in London earlier this week.

Star Alliance Services GmbH appoints DDB on global account
Star Alliance Services GmbH, the organisation serving the world’s leading airline alliance, has appointed DDB to handle its global communications.

United Airlines now participating in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards
First U.S. carrier to offer alliance mileage upgrade option
United Airlines is now the ninth Star Alliance member airline to offer Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, a unique Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) that enables customers to redeem miles or points from their FFP accounts for one-class upgrades on scheduled flights operated by the participating Star Alliance member carriers.

Star Alliance member carriers co-locate in new South Wing, Terminal 1, at Tokyo’s Narita Airport
Zonal check-in improves customer service; Over 120 self-service check-in units; Minimum connecting times reduced
The Star Alliance member carriers serving Tokyo's Narita Airport will begin operations from new state-of-the art facilities in the South Wing of Terminal 1 as of Friday, June 2nd, 2006.

Star Alliance Conventions Plus now includes South African Airways and SWISS
Dedicated stand at the IMEX exhibition
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has expanded Conventions Plus to include flights operated by South African Airways and SWISS.

Air China Limited to become a Star Alliance member carrier
Air China Limited ("Air China") and the Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming an invitation for Air China to join the alliance.

Star Alliance Upgrade Awards available on three additional carriers
Asiana Airlines, TAP Portugal and THAI, now also offer alliance mileage upgrade option
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has expanded its Upgrade Awards product to include flights operated by Asiana Airlines, TAP Portugal and Thai Airways International.

Shanghai Airlines invited to become member of Star Alliance
Star Alliance, the airline network for earth, today announced it has invited Shanghai Airlines Co., Limited of Shanghai, China to join the alliance. With this move both Shanghai Airlines and Star Alliance open a new chapter in Chinese aviation history.

Star Alliance member carriers seek legal and regulatory clarification on proposed content sharing by GDS ACAP project to continue
The Star Alliance member carriers are seeking both legal and regulatory clarification on the recently announced content sharing deal between two of the world's four largest Global Distribution Systems (GDS), Amadeus and Sabre.

Star Alliance welcomes South African Airways
First African airline to join an alliance
At a ceremony held in Johannesburg today, Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, welcomed South African Airways (SAA) as its 18th member into the alliance. Star Alliance is the first aviation alliance to include an African airline and SAA is the first airline from Africa to have joined such an alliance.

Star Alliance welcomes SWISS as its newest member
More frequent flyer benefits and flight options for customers
At a ceremony held in Zurich today, Star Alliance, the airline network for EarthTM, welcomed Swiss International Air Lines into the alliance as its 17th member. With immediate effect, customers travelling on flights operated by SWISS, will benefit from all the advantages which the members of the alliance offer.

Star Alliance selects Lufthansa Systems as a preferred supplier for the Alternative Content Access Platform (ACAP) project
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has today selected Lufthansa Systems as a preferred supplier to introduce ACAP.

Star Alliance appoints Philip Saunders as new Vice-President Sales, Marketing & Loyalty
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has appointed Philip Saunders as Vice-President Sales, Marketing & Loyalty effective March 20th, 2006. Reporting directly to the Star Alliance CEO, Mr. Saunders will have responsibility for all marketing and sales functions at Star Alliance Services GmbH, the project and brand management company working on behalf of the 16-member airline alliance.

Star Alliance improves customer service at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1
The Star Alliance member carriers operating from Paris – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport Terminal 1 have begun their moves into the new check-in hall 4.

Star Alliance launches online interactive tool for US-based travel agents and corporate travel planners/bookers
Using an innovative online interactive educational tool, Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, has launched its “Explore the World with Star Alliance” campaign today, targeted exclusively at travel agents and corporate travel planners/bookers in the US.