Star Alliance celebrates 15 today. It is the first and largest alliance of airlines in the world. It was launched at 14 May 1997, with its headquarters near Frankfurt airport. Thus was the start for air alliances. They have the role of standardizing the quality of flights, safety systems and services globally.
The bases of the alliance were laid by 5 large air operators: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. But over time it became the largest alliance by the number of passengers transported, but also by the number of members, in the present having 25 of operators with full rights.
In addition to the founding members, we also add: US Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP Portugal, TAM Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, South African Airways, Singapore Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Croatia Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Blue 1, Austrian Airlines, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Air China, Aegean Airlines, Adria Airways.
Happy Birthday Star Alliance - May 14, 2012
7 members left the alliance for a variety of reasons: Spanair went bankrupt at the beginning of 2012, Mexicana joined OneWorld in 2009, bmi merged with International Airlines Group - a British Airways affiliate and Iberia, OneWorld members. In the near future, other 5 operators are preparing to join.
Star Alliance joins a fleet of over 4000 aircraft operating to 1290 from airports in 189 countries. About 990 million passengers are transported annually.