Star Alliance approves SWISS membership

At its bi-annual meeting held in Kyoto, Japan, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance 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.

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