Star Alliance(TM) welcomes Asiana, LOT and Spanair to its roster of world
class airlines; Carriers to join over the next 12 months
SHANGHAI, June 1 /CNW/ - The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance,
assembled in Shanghai in The People's Republic of China, today approved the
addition of three new members to the global airline group. Work will commence
immediately on the integration of Asiana Airlines of South Korea, LOT Polish
Airlines and Spanair of Spain into Star Alliance.
No official date has yet been set for the official entry into Star
Alliance of the new member airlines. It is anticipated, however, that they
will all become part of the world's leading airline alliance within the next
six to 12 months.
"We are proud that Asiana, LOT and Spanair have chosen to join Star
Alliance," the Chief Executive Board said in a statement. "They will add
further strength and quality to our worldwide route network by increasing its
global reach and thereby its customer value. With the addition of Asiana, LOT
and Spanair we have taken another important step in the development of Star
Alliance as the world's premiere airline alliance," the chief executives
added. Representing Air Canada on the CEB is the airline's President and Chief
Executive Officer, Robert Milton.
The addition of these member airlines represents an opportunity for Air
Canada to continue enhancing its worldwide passenger network. Earlier this
spring, Air Canada formed a commercial agreement with Spanair coinciding with
Air Canada's start-up of daily non-stop service between Toronto and Madrid
April 7, 2002. Air Canada operates daily non-stop service between Vancouver
and Seoul and currently offers flights to Warsaw on a codeshare basis with
Lufthansa via Frankfurt.
"Asiana is excited to join Star Alliance, the leading airline alliance
that will continue to shed new meaning and light to the airline business,"
said Chan Bup Park, President and Chief Operating Officer of Asiana. "By
working closely with Star Alliance members in the Northeast and Southeast
Asian markets Asiana will become a great asset to the alliance, providing an
extended network that will significantly benefit customers and Star Alliance."
Jan Litwinski, President and CEO of LOT said, "We are extremely happy
that the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board today accepted our application
for membership in this truly global airline network. I am convinced that the
values LOT will bring to Star Alliance will benefit customers as well as the
member carriers. Our membership in Star Alliance will connect Poland with the
world and the world with Poland.
"We are delighted to further our valued airline partnerships by joining
Star Alliance," said Gonzalo Pascual, President and Chairman of the Board of
Spanair.
"After many years of successful cooperation with some of the world's most
prestigious airlines - all founding and current members of Star Alliance - we
look forward to providing travelers in Spain with the enhanced recognition,
benefits and global access they deserve. Today's decision by the Star Alliance
Chief Executive Board is an important milestone for Spanair that has been
enthusiastically awaited by our customers, employees and shareholders as we
complete the remaining steps to fulfill our role as Star Alliance's member in
Southern Europe," Pascual said.
Asiana Airlines was established in 1988. It serves 64 destinations in 15
countries, including 14 cities in China, out of Seoul with a modern fleet of
64 aircraft. Asiana carried 12 million passengers last year. The airline
employs more than 8,000 people.
LOT Polish Airlines can look back upon a history that started in 1929.
The airline serves 12 domestic and 49 international destinations out of Warsaw
with a fleet of 51 aircraft. Some 3.2 million passengers were carried in 2001.
LOT Polish Airlines has 4,355 employees.
Spanair was set up in 1986 as a joint venture between Star Alliance
member SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Teinver SA of Spain. The airline operates
services to 25 destinations in mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands
as well as internationally with a fleet of 49 aircraft. More than eight
million passengers were carried by Spanair in 2001. The airline has 2,750
employees.
Star Alliance was established in May, 1997 as the first truly global
airline alliance. The member airlines are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All
Nippon Airways - ANA, Austrian Airlines, bmi british midland, Lauda Air,
Lufthansa German Airlines, Mexicana Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines,
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Tyrolean Airways, United
Airlines and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. The Star Alliance network serves 729
airports in 124 countries.
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