Star Alliance approves SWISS membership - More flight options for customers
NAGOYA, JAPAN – June 2, 2005 – At its bi-annual meeting held in Kyoto, Japan, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth™, voted unanimously to accept the application for membership of Swiss International Air Lines.
“Our strategy at Star Alliance has always been to provide more choice, especially for the high-value international traveller. In accepting SWISS’s application for membership, we will in future be able to offer more choice to our customers, especially in Europe and on key international routes to North and South America, Africa and Asia,” said Mineo Yamamoto, President and CEO of ANA.
“Joining Star Alliance represents a milestone for our company and its customers,” added Christoph Franz, President and Chief Executive Officer of SWISS. “As a quality airline with a worldwide reputation, SWISS is the preferred carrier of a large number of high-value international travellers. And as a Star Alliance member, we will be even better equipped to meet their specific air travel needs.”
SWISS, the national airline of Switzerland, carried 9.2 million passengers last year to 74 destinations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The company, which employs some 7,700 personnel and operates a fleet of 78 aircraft, announced its planned acquisition by Lufthansa and its integration into the Lufthansa Group in March 2005.
With the two confirmed new members South African Airways and SWISS the Star Alliance network will in future cover some 846 destinations in 151 countries, with the 18 member carriers operating nearly 16,000 flights per day.
About Star Alliance
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, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. South African Airways and SWISS will be integrated during the course of the next 12 months. Overall, the member carriers offer more than 15,000 daily flights to 795 destinations in 139 countries.
Star Alliance Press Office
Tel. : +49 69 96375 183
Fax : +49 69 96375 683
Email: mediarelations@staralliance.com
SWISS Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 (0) 848 773 773
Fax:+41 61 582 35 54
Email: communications@swiss.com