AIRLINE ALLIANCES

 An airline alliance is an aviation industry arrangement

between two or more airlines agreeing to cooperate
substantially.
 Airline alliances provide marketing branding to facilitate
travellers making inter-airline codeshare connections.
 This branding may involve unified aircraft liveries of member
aircraft.
 In 2015, Star Alliance was the largest in passenger miles,
with 23% of scheduled traffic, followed by SkyTeam with
20.4% and Oneworld with 17.8%, 38.8% for others.
 In 2018, by number of passengers, Star Alliance was leading
762 million, followed by SkyTeam 630 million and Oneworld
535 million.
 AIRLINE ALLIANCES

 Benefits include an extended network, often realised

through codeshare agreements.
 Cost reductions come from the sharing of sales offices,
maintenance facilities, operational facilities (e.g. catering or
computer systems), operational staff (e.g. ground handling
personnel, at check-in and boarding desks, investments and
purchases (e.g. in order to negotiate extra volume discounts).
 Traveller benefits include lower prices due to lowered
operational costs, more departure times, more destinations,
shorter travel times as a result of optimised transfers, a wider
range lounges shared with alliance members.
 Fast track access on all alliance members, faster mileage rewards
by earning miles from multiple carriers, round-the-world tickets,
enabling travellers to fly over the world for a relatively low price.
 AIRLINE ALLIANCES

 Airline alliances may also create disadvantages, such as

higher prices when competition is erased on a certain route
or less frequent flights.
 For instance, if two airlines separately fly three and two
times a day respectively on a shared route, their alliance
might fly less than 5 (3+2) times a day.
 The ability of an airline to join an alliance may be restricted
by laws and regulations or subject to approval by
authorities.
 Competition law issues must also be considered in some
countries.
 STAR ALLIANCE

 Star Alliance is the world's largest global airline alliance.

 Founded on 14 May 1997, its current CEO is Jeffrey Goh and its
headquarters is located in Frankfurt Main, Germany.
 As of April 2018, Star Alliance is the largest of the three global
alliances by passenger count with 762.27 million,
SkyTeam (630 million) and Oneworld (528 million).
 Its slogan is "The Way The Earth Connects".
 Star Alliance has 26 member airlines and operate a fleet of 5,033
aircraft, serving more than 1,290 airports in 195 countries on
19,000 daily departures.
 The alliance has a two-tier rewards program, Silver and Gold,
with incentives including priority boarding and upgrades.
 Star Alliance airlines share airport terminals and many member
planes are painted in the alliance's livery.
 SKYTEAM

 Founded in June 2000.

 Its annual passenger count is 630 million (2019).
 As of January 2019, SkyTeam consists of 19 carriers from
five continents and operates with the slogan "Caring more about
you".
 It also operates a cargo alliance named SkyTeam Cargo, which
partners ten carriers.
 Its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, is based at
the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds
of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands.
 As of November 2019, SkyTeam flies to more than 1,150
destinations in more than 175 countries and operates more than
14,500 daily flights.
 The alliance and its members have 750 lounges worldwide.
 SKYTEAM

 Founded in June 2000.

 Its annual passenger count is 630 million (2019).
 As of January 2019, SkyTeam consists of 19 carriers from
five continents and operates with the slogan "Caring more about
you".
 It also operates a cargo alliance named SkyTeam Cargo, which
partners ten carriers.
 Its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, is based at
the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds
of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands.
 As of November 2019, SkyTeam flies to more than 1,150
destinations in more than 175 countries and operates more than
14,500 daily flights.
 The alliance and its members have 750 lounges worldwide.
 ONEWORLD

 Oneworld is an airline alliance founded on February 1, 1999.

 The alliance's stated objective is to be the first choice airline
alliance for the world's frequent international travellers.
 Its central alliance office is in Manhattan, New York, United
States.
 Its member airlines are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay
Pacific etc., and some 30 affiliated airlines.
 As of October 2017, Oneworld is the third-largest global alliance
in terms of passengers with more than 527.9 million passengers
carried, behind SkyTeam (630M) and Star Alliance (762M).
 As of October 2017, its member airlines collectively operate a
fleet of 3,447 aircraft, serve about 1,000 airports in more than
158 countries, carrying 527.9 million passengers per year on
12,738 daily departures, generating annual revenues of more
than US$130 billion.