The Star Alliance was founded in May 1997 and currently has 25 members.
The alliance is one of several alliances formed around the world. Major airlines ultimately join alliances to gain significant benefits such as codeshare agreements and increased market coverage. So, which airlines are members of the Star Alliance?
Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, and United Airlines became four of the five founding members of the alliance on May 14, 1997. They were later joined by Air New Zealand and All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 1999. The following year saw Austrian Airlines and Singapore Airlines join.
Three years later, Asiana Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines officially became members. Croatia Airlines joined in 2004, with TAP Air Portugal, SWISS, and South African Airways following suit. Between December 2007 and July 2010, Air China, Turkish Airlines, Egyptair, Brussels Airlines, Aegean Airlines came on board.
Ethiopian Airlines joined in 2011, while Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines became official members in 2012. EVA Air joined the alliance the following year, with Air India becoming an official member in 2014.
Former members of the alliance include Adria Airways, Ansett Australia, Avianca Brasil, Blue1, British Midland International, Continental Airlines, Mexicana, SAS (the fifth founding member who left Star Alliance for SkyTeam on September 1, 2024), Shanghai Airlines, Spanair, TACA Airlines, TAM Airlines, US Airways, and VARIG.
Full list of current Star Alliance members
- Aegean Airlines (joined June 2010)
- Air Canada (joined May 1997)
- Air China (joined December 2007)
- Air India (joined July 2014)
- Air New Zealand (joined May 1999)
- All Nippon Airways (ANA) (joined October 1999)
- Asiana Airlines (joined March 2003)
- Austrian Airlines (joined March 2000)
- Avianca (joined June 2012)
- Brussels Airlines (joined December 2009)
- Copa Airlines (joined June 2012)
- Croatia Airlines (joined November 2004)
- Egyptair (joined June 2008)
- Ethiopian Airlines (joined December 2011)
- EVA Air (joined June 2013)
- LOT Polish Airlines (joined October 2003)
- Lufthansa (joined May 1997)
- Shenzhen Airlines (joined November 2012)
- Singapore Airlines (joined April 2000)
- South African Airways (joined April 2006)
- SWISS (joined April 2006)
- TAP Air Portugal (joined March 2005)
- Thai Airways (joined May 1997)
- Turkish Airlines (joined April 2008)
- United Airlines (joined May 1997)
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