The ceos of the Star Alliance airlines gathered in India for their annual meeting, which saw them reflect on the joining of Air India, and discuss other projects in the pipeline.
Around 200,000 customers travel each day with Star Alliance carriers, serving as the leading aviation alliance.
India represents a new market for Star Alliance, and as Star Alliance’s CEO Mark Schwab said, “It was important to fill the gap in the network and begin participating in this rapidly growing market.”
Air India has already experienced positive outcomes from its fresh membership with Star Alliance after joining in July 2014, including a jump of 33% in the number of passengers transferring between Air India and other member carriers of the Alliance.
Star Alliance has also added a new network with AeroGal from Ecuador, who as part of the Avianca Group now extends the Alliance’s network into Latin America and destinations such as the Galapagos Islands.
Improved networks are also in the Alliance’s sights, with planned flights from Tokyo to Houston by ANA, Taipei to Houston flights with EVA Air, and the latest announcement of Air New Zealand’s flight to Buenos Aires.
Star Alliance has three key focuses for the future, which include expanding and enhancing networks, concentrating on customer solutions, and building on the group’s technology systems.
“We have invested significantly in technology at the centre of Star Alliance at more efficient spending costs for carriers,” Schwab said. “This includes a live interchange of miles between carriers.”
In June this year, the Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, or the ‘Queen’s Terminal’, was launched, acting as home to a co-located terminal for Star Alliance carriers.
Rovinescu let the cat out of the bag in a press meeting, saying that Heathrow’s Terminal 2 was to be named Air Transport’s ‘Airport of the Year’.
Schwab also mentioned the announcement made at last year’s CEB to accept Avianca Brasil into the Alliance, with processes well underway to integrate the airline.
Schwab says the announcement of its coming on board with the Alliance is imminent, and that the Alliance also has plans to incorporate a second airline in the region alongside Avianca Brasil, although wouldn’t say which airlines they were considering.
Speaking also to Air New Zealand’s CEO Christopher Luxon, Travel Today discussed the new announcement of the direct flight to Buenos Aires, something that will cater to a market of around 35% of Australian travellers.
“South America is the last unchartered space in the Pacific Rim region,” Luxon said.
A joint venture with Air China is also in the works, Luxon told Travel Today, likening the partnership to that of the Air New Zealand-Virgin Australia relationship.
Luxon said the idea of offering ‘longer layover’ packages for passengers travelling via Auckland to the rest of the world had also crossed their minds, which would allow travellers to get out of the airport and get a taste of New Zealand en route to their final destination.
The CEB meeting wrapped up on Wednesday, after two days of meetings and conferences, with Schwab thanking Air India’s CMD Rohit Nandan for hosting the event in New Delhi, and proving a strong member to add to the Star Alliance family.
