Two more airlines join Star Alliance

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 2. The Singapore International Airlines (SIA) and Austrian Airlines have joined the Star Alliance, an international group of nine airlines which offers seamless travel to passengers. The Star Alliance held a gala event in Gurgaon on Saturday evening to welcome the new entrants.

Mr. Harald Hans, Chairman of the Star Alliance Steering Committee and General Manager (South Asia), Lufthansa German Airlines, said the Alliance had grown in strength and all partners together carried 20 per cent passengers of the world. ``Every 10 seconds, one Star Alliance flight takes off,'' he said. Mr. Harald Hans, Chairman of the Star Alliance Steering Committee and General Manager-South Asia, Lufthansa German Airlines.

``With the inclusion of Singapore and Austrian airlines, we now cover 800 destinations in more than 130 countries. Together the Star Alliance partners transport over a quarter billion passengers annually, with a fleet size of 2,200 aircraft and 330,000 employees,'' he said.

``With its Asian partners on Star Alliance, the Singapore International Airline (SIA) will become a force to reckon with on the East bound route and with its European partners, it will offer a complete package with reasonable fares,'' the SIA General Manager, India, Mr Kian Hai Lean, said.

He said the airline was prepared to offer more seats on all metros in India.

Mr. Robert Stainoch, the Austrian Airlines General Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal said joining Star Alliance will give all partners long-term benefits, opportunity for growth, profitability, strength and maintaining independence. He hailed the Star Alliance as a ``truly global alliance''.

The Austrian Airlines has three flights into India and is planning to add on one more in May. It has sought a review of the bi-lateral for adding on capacity and destinations such as Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Of the 11 airlines now in the Star Alliance fold, the Japanese All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways already offer services from their respective countries to India and maintain their own offices at major cities. Other partners such as Air Canada, United Airlines, Ansett Australia, Air New Zealand and Varig Brazilian Airlines have their sales offices in several cities in the country.

The British Midland Airways and the Mexican Airlines are also expected to join the Alliance soon.

Members of the Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Programme can collect and redeem mileage on any Star Alliance carrier and have access to shared facilities.

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Section  : National
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