(Posted 16th May 2022)
Star Alliance and its 26-member carriers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the world’s first and leading global airline alliance on Saturday, May 14th, 2022. The alliance was established in 1997 based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. It continues today by leveraging technology to foster a harmonious experience for customers.
“We reflect on the successes of Star Alliance in uniting the leading global airlines, with an eye firmly focused on a future where the customer continues to be at the heart of our work and our global network,” said Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance before adding: “I am very excited for the innovations led by Star Alliance and our members carriers as we aim to be the most digitally advanced airline alliance offering seamless travel experiences with a unique loyalty proposition. This year, we look forward to further developments in seamless connectivity — such as new digital and mobile innovations — and exciting industry-first offers that loyal customers of our member carriers will welcome”.
Together. Better. Connected. with Star Alliance
In conjunction with the anniversary milestone, Star Alliance and its member carriers will release exciting campaigns and customer innovations under the new brand tagline “Together. Better. Connected.” The new brand tagline captures the intent of fostering better human connections through the Star Alliance global network coupled with digital seamless connectivity.
“We have defined the way the Earth connects for years, and now more than ever, is the time to enable technology to provide seamless journeys and delight the loyal customers of our member carriers,” Mr. Goh continued. “I am happy that “Together. Better. Connected.” — our new tagline — reflects that earnestly and is also future-facing. It will motivate us to do better.”
Among the key successes and future offerings upon which Star Alliance continues to innovate are:
- To introduce a new partnership model that cements network leadership
- To be announced an industry-first co-branded credit card in a regional market that will offer loyalty customers of member airlines the opportunity to earn miles and points with spends
- Jointly adopted a sustainability statement with member carriers to commit to the industry goal of net-zero carbon emissions and consequent joint efforts on decarbonisation
- Star Alliance Biometrics, launched in 2020, is now available across four major airports – Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna – with Hamburg added in April 2022
- Expansion of the Digital Connection Service to augment the Star Alliance Connection Centres to aid connecting passengers at major airports and the airlines serving them. This service is currently available at London Heathrow and will expand to a key European hub soon.
- Progressive ability to reserve seats and track baggage location on codeshare flights and multi-carrier journeys through the digital channels of member carriers
- Award-winning Star Alliance lounge in Los Angeles and other premium lounges in Amsterdam, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Paris, with new options for paid access being progressively rolled out.
- Collection and online redemption of points and miles for award flights and upgrades across the twenty-six member carriers
Star Alliance innovations are underpinned by a robust and ever-evolving IT infrastructure that integrates the member carriers, coupled with more than 50 business practice standards and audit functions that place the customer at the center of the travel experience. On that basis, the Alliance has repeatedly won several “Best Airline Alliance” awards including the notable World Travel Awards, Skytrax World Airline Awards and Air Transport Awards which have recognised its positive contribution to the future of air travel.
Meanwhile is Brussels Airlines, also a member of Star Alliance since 2009, looking back at 20 years of operations, when it restarted – following the collapse which was caused by Swiss’, its then parent company’s bankruptcy – as SN Brussels Airlines before rebranding as Brussels Airlines.
Wrote Nina Oewerdieck, CFO of Brussels Airlines, on her LinkedIn page about the celebration:
That was an amazing event! So grateful that we were able to celebrate with all of you the 20th anniversary of Brussels Airlines! I loved it ?
#brusselsairlines
Happy faces were all around us as we brought over 1000 Brussels Airlines colleagues together to celebrate our 20th anniversary. After more than two years of distance and measures we were finally able to reconnect with colleagues from Europe and Africa, give our retirees the goodbye party they deserve and festively welcome new Brussels Airlines colleagues.
We are proud of the many incredible things we have realized in the past 20 years and look forward to what’s coming next!
#BrusselsAirlines #Thefuturewillbebright #youreingoodcompany
Brussels Airlines flies daily from the European capital city of Brussels to Entebbe in Uganda, five times a week via Kigali / Rwanda and twice a week via Bujumbura / Burundi, using an Airbus A330-300 in a three class configuration of Economy, Premium Economy and Business.
