Press Release 2004

Blue1 to become first Star Alliance regional member
Application of Finnish airline approved

The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, today announced that Finnish airline Blue1 will become the first regional member of the alliance.

“With Blue1, Star Alliance now implements its regional membership strategy, which is part of the alliance’s mission to serve more places, more often than any other alliance,” said Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Star Alliance.
“In terms of customer benefits, regional members will be offering the same advantages as members carriers, in other words, frequent flyer benefits, lounge access, through check-in, just to name a few,” Albrecht added.

In order to become a regional member, aside from meeting certain requirements, the carrier in question must be sponsored by and have close ties to an existing member to achieve a quick and easy integration. The sponsoring airline will represent the regional member within the alliance. As Blue1 is owned by Star Alliance member carrier SAS, these prerequisites are fulfilled.

“We are very proud that Blue1, a SAS Group Company, will be the first regional member of Star Alliance,” said Jørgen Lindegaard, President and CEO of the SAS Group. “This way the airline will further strengthen its own and Star Alliance's position in the Finnish market.”

“Through Star Alliance, Blue1 becomes an attractive alternative for the Finnish traveller. The integration in Star Alliance, the leader in alliances in the commercial aviation sector, brings without doubt mutual benefits for Blue1 as well as for other airlines already integrated,” Lindegaard continued.

Blue1’s integration into Star Alliance is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.

Blue1 operates more than 110 flights per day. The fleet, one of the youngest in Europe, consists of nine Avro RJ and five Saab 2000 aircraft. In 2004 Blue1 is expected to carry more than 1 million passengers between Finland and Scandinavia and Europe.

Blue1, as the first regional member, joins South African Airways and TAP Air Portugal as future members of the alliance. Following their official inaugurations, the Star Alliance network will comprise over 15,000 daily flights to 833 destinations in 152 countries.

Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines.

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