Andrew Doyle/VIENNA
The 13 members of the Star Alliance have agreed to appoint a full-time executive management team to oversee co-operation at operational level. Lufthansa's Friedel Rodig becomes chief executive of the joint management organisation, with Bruce Harris of United Airlines taking the role of deputy.
Star says the move reflects a "shift of focus from expanding the alliance to deepening the degree of co-operation among its members". British Midland and Mexicana joined the group on 1 July, alongside existing members Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines Group, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, United and Varig.
The Star Alliance chief executives' meeting last week in Vienna, Austria, said the partnership was "close to completion in terms of numbers of members". They added, in a joint statement: "We have largely fulfilled our promise of providing unsurpassed global access. We are confident of finding partners that will allow us to expand our network."
The key priority is to recruit a Chinese member and a partner in India. The alliance has no members in Africa, eastern Europe or the CIS, but these regions are regarded as adequately covered by existing participants. South African Airways and LOT Polish Airlines have already fallen to Qualiflyer leader SAirGroup, and Czech Airlines is joining SkyTeam.
Star has a network of 815 destinations in 130 countries. The entry of British Midland establishes London Heathrow Airport as the home of two major alliance hubs, operated by rivals Star and British Airways/American Airlines-led oneworld.
Source: Flight International
