The History of Star Alliance Star Alliance created a new milestone for the airline industry with its founding on 14 May, 1997. As the first global airline alliance, linking five major airlines into a single network, it offered a completely new type of service to the international traveller. Since then, the Alliance has expanded to 26 member airlines, who together offer a comprehensive network spanning 195 countries worldwide. Download as PDF(105KB) 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Highlights: 2020 Launch of Star Alliance Biometrics December: Scott Kirby, CEO of United, is elected chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board; Star Alliance is named Leading Airline Alliance by World Travel Awards. November: Launch of Star Alliance Biometrics at Frankfurt and Munich Airport; Star Alliance lounge at Los Angeles airport recognized as best in North America by World Travel Awards; Corporate Innovation Award from Plug and Play October: Singapore Airlines launches the Digital version of Connection Service at London Heathrow Terminal 2 July: oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance come together to let travellers know that they can fly with confidence during the Corona pandemic 2019 Best Airline Alliance for fourth consecutive year October: Adria Airways leaves Star Alliance August: Avianca Brasil exits Star Alliance July: Launch of the new Round the World booking site June: Star Alliance is named Best Airline Alliance for the fourth time running and their Los Angeles Lounge receives Best Airline Alliance Lounge for the fifth consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards May: Reopening of the refurbished Star Alliance Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport March: Opening of a new Star Alliance Lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol February: Star Alliance partners with Skyscanner on multi-carrier itineraries 2018 Opening of Star Alliance Lounge at Rome Fiumicino Airport July: Star Alliance is voted Best Airline Alliance and its Los Angeles Lounge is voted Best Airline Alliance Lounge at Skytrax World Airline Awards June: Opening of a Star Alliance Lounge at Rome Fiumicino Airport February: Star Alliance creates the Digital Services Platform together with Accenture 2017 Jeffrey Goh takes over from Mark Schwab as CEO of Star Alliance May: Juneyao Airlines, based in Shanghai, becomes the first Connecting Partner of Star Alliance May 14: On the occasion of its 20th Anniversary, Star Alliance celebrates 20 years of “connecting people and cultures”; Also, a new strategy of harnessing digital technology to further enhance the journey experience of Star Alliance customers comes into action January: Jeffrey Goh takes over from Mark Schwab as CEO of Star Alliance; Air India moves to Heathrow Terminal 2, completing the relocation of all 24 Star Alliance airlines at Heathrow to the Queen’s Terminal 2016 Opening of the sixth Star Alliance Lounge at Rio de Janeiro (Galeão) Airport December: Opening of the sixth Star Alliance lounge at Rio de Janeiro (Galeão) Airport November: Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, is elected chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board 2015 Heathrow Terminal 2 named Airport of the Year December: Star Alliance launches its Connecting Partner Model to expand network reach via low-cost, hybrid and regional airlines July: Avianca Brasil (member until 2019) joins the Star Alliance network February: Heathrow Terminal 2 - The Queen’s Terminal is named Airport of the Year at the Air Transport World Annual Awards 2014 Heathrow Terminal 2 – The Queen’s Terminal opens as the new home of Star Alliance at Heathrow Airport July: Air India joins the Star Alliance network; Star Alliance opens a lounge at Sao Paulo – Guarulhos Airport Terminal 3 June: The new Heathrow Terminal 2 starts operations, moving all Star Alliance members under one roof; Later that month, Queen Elizabeth II formally opens Heathrow Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal May: Star Alliance welcomes its customers again at the newly refurbished lounge at Paris Charles-De-Gaulle Airport 2013 Opening of a Star Alliance lounge at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport September: Opening of a Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport following the extension of Tom Bradley International Terminal June: EVA Air joins the Star Alliance network May: Star Alliance launches the Navigator iPad App February: Star Alliance opens a new lounge at Buenos Aires Ezeiza "Ministro Pistarini" International Airport 2012 Star Alliance opens the first ever alliance-branded ticket counter at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol December: Heathrow Airport designates Terminal 2 as the new home for Star Alliance member carriers serving one of the world’s most important international airports November: Shenzhen Airlines hosts Star Alliance CEB meeting as the airline joins the Star Alliance network June: Avianca and Copa Airlines jointly host the Star Alliance CEB meeting as both airlines join the Star Alliance network, expanding the Alliance’s presence in Latin America April: Star Alliance opens the first ever alliance-branded ticket counter at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 2011 Mark Schwab appointed as Star Alliance CEO December: Mark Schwab is appointed as the CEO of Star Alliance, taking over from Jaan Albrecht; Ethiopian Airlines hosts the Star Alliance CEB meeting as the airline joins the Star Alliance Network 2010 Star Alliance offers multiple fare products online November: Star Alliance enhances its digital progress by being the only airline alliance to offer multiple fare products online - Round the World Fare and Star Alliance Circle Fares June: Aegean Airlines joins the Star Alliance network May: TAM (member until 2014) hosts the Star Alliance CEB meeting as the airline joins the Star Alliance network 2009 Continental Airlines and Brussels Airlines join Star Alliance network December: Brussels Airlines hosts Star Alliance CEB Meeting as the airline joins the Star Alliance network October: Continental Airlines (merged with United Airlines in 2010 ) joins the Star Alliance network July: Star Alliance launches “Book and Fly”, the Alliance’s first ever booking engine on www.staralliance.com for Round the World fares 2008 Opening of a Star Alliance lounge at London Heathrow Airport August: Star Alliance launches industry first Auto Document Check July: EGYPTAIR joins the Star Alliance network; Opening of a Star Alliance Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 1 April: Turkish Airlines joins the Star Alliance network 2007 Air China and Shanghai Airlines join Star Alliance December: Air China and Shanghai Airlines (member until 2010) jointly host the Star Alliance CEB meeting as both airlines join the Star Alliance network July: Opening of the first Star Alliance lounge in North America in Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport May: Star Alliance celebrates its tenth anniversary 2006 Star Alliance launches its official website December: Launch of the www.staralliance.com website September: Star Alliance is voted Best Airline Alliance at Business Traveller Awards (UK) April: SWISS and South African Airways jointly host the Star Alliance CEB meeting as both airlines join the Star Alliance network 2005 Opening of a Star Connection Centre in Munich August: Opening of our Star Connection Centre in Munich March: TAP Portugal joins the Star Alliance network 2004 Four members joining Star Alliance network- US Airways, Blue 1, Adria and Croatia Airlines November: Blue1 (member until 2015) joins as the first regional member of Star Alliance, followed by Adria Airways (member until 2019) and Croatia Airlines May: US Airways (member until 2014) joins the Star Alliance network 2003 Spanair, Asiana and LOT Polish Airlines join Star Alliance network October: LOT Polish Airlines joins the Star Alliance network May: Spanair (member until 2012) joins the Star Alliance network March: Asiana Airlines joins the Star Alliance network 2002 Star Alliance celebrates its fifth anniversary November: Star Alliance is voted Best Airline Alliance in U.S. Business Traveler magazine poll, earning the Alliance its first award May: To mark its fifth anniversary, Star Alliance celebrates with all 14 member airlines at Frankfurt Airport 2001 First Star Alliance lounge opens at Zurich Airport August: The very first Star Alliance branded lounge officially opens at Zurich Airport May: Star Alliance announces the appointment of Jaan Albrecht as CEO, effective 01 June 2000 Star Alliance opens a business centre in Frankfurt November: Appointment of Friedel Rödig as CEO of Star Alliance August: Star Alliance opens a business centre in Frankfurt July: British Midland (member until 2012) and Mexicana Airlines (member until 2004) become Star Alliance members April: Singapore Airlines joins the Star Alliance network March: The Austrian Airlines Group, comprising Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air (merged with Austrian in 2013) and Tyrolean Airways (merged with Austrian in 2015), join the Star Alliance network 1999 ANA, Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand join Star Alliance network October: ANA joins the Star Alliance network March: Ansett Australia (member until 2001) and Air New Zealand join the Star Alliance network 1998 The First Country Sales Committees are established Establishment of the First Country Sales Committees, now known as Country Steering Councils 1997 May 14, launch of Star Alliance network October: VARIG Brazilian Airlines joins the Star Alliance network (member until 2007) September: Air Canada and SAS begin codeshare flights May: Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways International and United Airlines launch the Star Alliance network Go to top of the page Connect With Us instagram facebook twitter linkedin youtube weibo wechat Download The Star Alliance App Site Map Selected images from www.unsplash.com and icons from thenounproject.com © 1997-2021 Star Alliance