Member Airline Profiles

Bangkok--Jul 8--The Star Alliance Network Air Canada Air Canada is Canada's largest airline. Together with its regional airlines, Air Canada provides air transportation to 118 destinations across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With its Star Alliance partners, Air Canada's reach has been extended further still. Widely recognized for quality in-flight service and entertainment, Air Canada is a world leader in passenger telecommunications. Its Executive First service is highly sought after by long haul business travelers, as are its state-of-the-art business centers and comfortable Maple Leaf Lounges. The airlines frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, is Canada's largest and offers an extensive network of quality travel and accommodation partners. In 1999, Air Canada received honours as the best North American domestic airline by the Official Airline Guide (OAG), and as the best passenger service airline in the world by Air Transport World Magazine. In addition, the readers of Business Traveler Intenrational have chosen Air Canada as the best airline for flights to Canada for seven consecutive years. Recognition, convenience, comfort and reliability: these are the four cornerstones of Air Canada's customer-oriented philosophy. Air New Zealand Founded in 1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited, Air New Zealand is New Zealand s national airline. With over fifty years of service, Air New Zealand has become one of the largest airlines of the Pacific and today is New Zealand's fourth largest company in terms of revenue. Air New Zealand s international network spans four continents and two hemispheres. From the key business centres of Asia, the United States, Europe and our many Pacific neighbours, Air New Zealand covers the world with a frequency designed to suit both the business traveller and the holiday maker. Air New Zealand s international network is complemented by Air New Zealand National & Link which offer travellers the most comprehensive and convenient schedule of services to 26 destinations throughout New Zealand. With the purchase in 1996 of 50 percent of Ansett Australia, Air New Zealand continues to strengthen its position as a leading Australasian carrier. Air New Zealand s commitment to delivering a level of service with a style, flair and warmth that is unique to Air New Zealand, continues to be recognised through many prestigious industry awards including the 1999 Globe Award for Best Airline to the Pacific and Best Airline in the 1998 World Business Class Survey. Air New Zealand strives to provide an environment that says welcome in a way that ensures, wherever in the world their customers travel, they feel at home. Ansett Australia Ansett Australia started domestic airline operations on February 17, 1936, using a single-engine, open-cockpit Fokker Universal aircraft from Hamilton in western Victoria to Melbourne, the state's capital. Yesterday, the Group founded by the late Sir Reginald Ansett operates a fleet of almost 75 aircraft to more than 70 towns and cities throughout Australia and to an increasing network of Asian cities. The Group's turnover topped $3.7 billion in 1997-98. On September 11, 1993, Ansett Australia operated its first international flights in its own right, to the popular Indonesian holiday island of Bali. The airline now flies to a number of Asian cities, with Fiji its newest international destination. Ansett is jointly owned by the News Corporation and Air New Zealand. Ansett New Zealand, established in 1987, is 100% owned by News, while Ansett International is 51% owned by Australian institutional investors with the balance held equally by News and Air New Zealand. In 1998 Ansett Australia won its 5th consecutive Airline of the Year Award and its holiday company, Ansett Holidays, which markets a range of more than 1,000 Australian holiday choices, won an award as best domestic tour operator in 1994. Major industry newspaper “Traveltrade,” voted Ansett International as offering the world s best Business Class in July 1997 and Ansett International was voted Best Australian Large Business in Asia in the International Business Asia News Magazine Awards. Independent global frequent traveller research has ranked Ansett s international Business Class as the world s best. From March 28 this year, Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand became members of the global Star Alliance, which also includes United Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Air Canada, Thai Airways International and VARIG Brazilian Airlines, offering airline travellers seamless global travel solutions for their global travel needs. Lufthansa Lufthansa is one of the ten largest airlines in the world. In terms of passenger numbers on international scheduled flights, it occupies second position in the world ranking. The Lufthansa story began in 1926, with its founding in Berlin. This chapter was brought to a close in 1945 with the end of the Second World War. Eight years later the new company, Lufthansa German Airlines, was founded in Cologne in 1953. The airline's success is owed greatly to Lufthansa's technical expertise. Lufthansa's fleet is one of the youngest and most environment-friendly in the industry (average age: six years) and so the airline can offer its passengers the comfort and convenience of the most modern aircraft. For an airline to be successful, it is essential that it have a global route network. The airline supplements its own network through cooperation with other major airlines. Passengers benefit additionally from an extensive frequent flyer program and improved ground services. Lufthansa plays a leading role in the industry in the further development of electronic distribution and ticketing. Lufthansa pays special attention to its First Class and Business Class passengers. The company's aim is to open up the customer to new dimensions in air travel and to extend Lufthansa's special service to the pre- and post-flight stages. SAS Scandinavian Airlines System, SAS, was founded in August 1946 as a consortium of the national airlines of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Over the years, SAS has established itself as an innovative, pioneering airline. In the 1950s it became the first airline in the world to fly over the North Pole and in 1962 was awarded the Christopher Columbus Prize | often called the Nobel Prize of communication | in recognition of its pioneering transpolar flights. In 1952 SAS was the first airline in the world to introduce Tourist Class, a discounted ticket with certain conditions. The entire airline industry later followed suit. At the beginning of the 1980s it launched a new service concept for business travel, SAS EuroClass, and received the coveted Airline of the Year Award in 1984. Yesterday, SAS develops products and services based on the watchwords of simplicity, choice and care. Emphasis is placed on providing travel service on the customer s own terms. One indication of how much this is appreciated by customers is the fact that the SAS frequent flyer program, SAS Euro Bonus, was voted best in the world in a ballot of some 84,000 frequent travellers worldwide for the third consecutive year in 1999. SAS is also in the forefront of the industry in relation to environmental concerns, becoming the first European carrier to introduce into its fleet the pro-environmental MD-90 and Boeing 737-600 aircraft fitted with DAC low-emission engines. With 21 million passengers a year SAS is one of the largest airlines in Europe and the 15th largest in the world. Each day SAS operates more than 1,000 flights. SAS was founded in the spirit of international cooperation. This same spirit was applied in May 1996 when SAS founded Star Alliance together with Air Canada, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Thai Airways International, offering convenient connections throughout an integrated global traffic system. SAS has launched a comprehensive renewal program with new logotype, aircraft livery, uniforms and several product improvements as the most outwardly visible signs. The new SAS identity is rooted in its history. It aims to convey the basics of Scandinavian design: simplicity, functionality, informal elegance and a respect for materials and resources. Thai Airways International Thai Airways International is Asia's leading airline, operating out of Bangkok, the indisputable aviation hub of Asia and one of the world's most popular tourist cities. Our founding partnership with SAS in 1959 was one of the earliest airline alliances ever signed. After the first flight on May 1, 1960, passenger volumes have increased tremendously, contributing to THAI's 33rd consecutive year of profitable operations in 1997. More than 13 million passengers experienced our Royal Orchid Service across 72 destinations in 37 countries. Within Asia, we now fly to more countries than any other airline, with convenient connections throughout Asia. Wherever we fly, Thai traditions and culture fly with us. Each day, over 10,000 female passengers are presented with an orchid corsage before disembarking. Our Asian specialty meals and good wines are second to none, and our traditional THAI 'wai' greeting has become legendary. The new corporate vision statement, "The First Choice Carrier: Smooth As Silk. First Time. Every Time," is becoming a reality by establishing a common direction, cooperation, and sense of purpose throughout the company. United Airlines Since its first open-cockpit biplane soared into the sky in 1926 to deliver the U.S. mail, United Airlines' industry-leading efforts have helped to expand commercial aviation and refine airline service. United Airlines was created as a result of a merger of four pioneering U.S. carriers: Boeing Air Transport, National Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport and Varney Air Lines. For nearly seven decades, United Airlines has built a history of innovation and leadership, including the world's first flight attendant service in 1930; the first airline flight kitchen in 1936; the first non stop, coast-to-coast U.S. flight in 1955; the first nationwide automated reservations system in 1971; and in 1995, the first carrier in the world to fly the state-of-the-art Boeing 777 aircraft. United began its first scheduled service outside North America in 1983 with non stop service to Tokyo. Since then, United has grown from a single overseas flight to become one of the largest international carriers in the world, flying nearly nine million travelers on 70,000 international flights each year. Yesterday, after nearly 70 years of passenger and cargo service, United is the largest majority employee-owned company in the world, spanning 140 destinations in 30 countries and three territories in five continents. Varig Brazilian Airlines Incorporated May 7, 1927, Varig Brazilian Airlines has established itself as Latin America s largest airline, in terms of both passenger and cargo service, and is among the 20 largest airlines in the world. During the last 70 years, Varig has accumulated approximately six million flight hours, with a fleet of over 80 medium and wide-body jets Varig s pioneering spirit is intimately related to Brazil s commercial aviation development. Today, the Company maintains a route network covering 87 cities within Brazil, as well as 35 cities in 23 countries throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Varig s Rio de Janeiro aircraft maintenance complex is the largest in Latin America, with other maintenance centres located in Sao Paulo and in Porto Alegre. Varig also owns and operates the largest and most modern flight simulator training centre in Latin America, which contributes to maintaining and upgrading flight crew capabilities. Varig s employees are dedicated to providing quality customer service, which has been recognised by many international awards. Today, Varig has established itself with world travellers through its customer-oriented Smilesฎ frequent flyer program, which offers loyal domestic and international customers extensive and varied benefits. OBSERVERS All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. In 1952, Nippon Helicopter (“NH”) and another regional airline were established in the Japanese private sector. With their founding, the first scheduled domestic flight services in Japan began. They operated separately but with close ties until 1957, when All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. was born through a merging of the two. ANA grew rapidly, developing a comprehensive route network between Japan s major cities. In 1986, ANA entered a new era with its first scheduled flight from Narita (Tokyo) to Guam after the Japanese government decided to allow increased competition in the expanding Japanese market for overseas travel. Now the eighth largest passenger carrier in the world, ANA continues to actively expand its international operations, today serving 28 destinations in 17 countries. Also, ANA maintains strong domestic roots, and the company s service to 34 destinations in Japan with over 500 flights daily represents over 50% of the Japanese domestic travel market, including flights operated by its sister companies. ANA constantly strives to bring new levels of comfort to the business traveler. ANA was one of the first carriers to introduce 180 degree reclining comfort to First Class passengers when it introduced its Fullflat Seat in 1998, and Club ANA, ANA s Business Class product, is widely recognized for its outstanding quality and service. Currently under observer status, ANA plans to join the Star Alliance network in October 1999. OBSERVERS Mexicana Airlines (Compa๑ia Mexicana de Aviacion) Founded in Mexico City in 1921, Mexicana Airlines is the fourth oldest airline in the world after KLM, Avianca and Qantas. It began scheduled service with a fleet of Lincoln Standard biplanes flying between Mexico City and Tampico, via Tuxpan. In 1926, new owner George Rihl teamed up with Sherman Fairchild and introduced onto the route four metal-bodied single-engined Fairchilds, which had space not only for four passengers but also the first deliveries of airmail. In 1929, after the airline was purchased by Pan American Airlines, it began its first international flights to Brownsville and Guatemala City, using Ford three-engined planes. In these, there was space for 13 passengers who were served by a single flight attendant. For the first trip between Brownsville and Mexico City, famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was in command. During the 1930s, more foreign flights were added to the capitals of El Salvador, Costa Rica and Cuba, as well as to Los Angeles. Mexicana entered the jet age on July 4, 1960, when one of five newly acquired 4C Comets inaugurated jet service on the route between Mexico City and Los Angeles. But these were difficult times for the airline. Mexicana was in fierce competition with both domestic and foreign airlines, and by 1967 it was on the brink of bankruptcy. Yet, after radical management changes and new business policies, Mexicana experienced a miraculous turn-around. In 1968, the shares held by PanAm were bought back by Mexican interests, and Mexicana became 100 per cent Mexican-owned. Yesterday, Mexicana operates a fleet of 51 aircraft made up of 24 Boeing 727-200s, three Boeing 757-200s, 14 Airbus A320s and ten Fokker F100s. Each year, more than 7 million passengers travel on Mexicana's network, which includes 32 cities in Mexico, eight in the U.S., two in Canada, three in Central America, five in South America and one in the Caribbean. Partnerships with other airlines and alliances with wholesale travel agents have increased its presence in other markets, and it is a well operated and financially stable company. End.

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