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Swiss and SAA join Star Alliance

13 Apr 2006 by business traveller

It's official. Both Swiss and South African Airways (SAA) have become the 17th and 18th members of the Star Alliance.

This development adds more value to Star Alliance which now covers 842 destinations across 152 countries. It provides members of any Star frequent flyer programme with the ability to earn and redeem miles to hundreds of new destinations, and it means that in the case of Zurich-based Swiss, travellers can choose from another European hub or gateway. And with Johannesburg-based SAA, the first African airline to join Star, there are now better links for FFP members to fly both to and within Africa.

SAA president and CEO Khaya Ngqula admitted that the service standards hadn't always been as good as they should. But this was being changed as SAA upgrades itself to the level of the top carriers.

Says Khaya Nqqula, "To celebrate this occasion, SAA is releasing an extra 12,000 mileage redemption seats for FFP members on five key international routes [including London] between June and August. Redemptions open in May."

In the case of Swiss, membership of Star and its acquisition by Lufthansa will ensure the carrier's survival. Swiss has never made a profit since it emerged from what remained of the former Swissair which went bankrupt in 2001. Says Swiss chairman Rolf Jetzer, "Swiss hopes to return its first ever profit this year. Following the takeover by Lufthansa [which will take several years to complete] we will continue to have our own management, fleet, crews and retain our head office in Switzerland."

As a landlocked country, aviation is vital for Switzerland. Says federal councillor Joseph Deiss, "Worldwide flight connections are business-critical for firms operating out of Switzerland. It is not without reason that so many international firms have established their bases in Switzerland; not without reason that so many Swiss companies are so successful internationally."

Other news to emerge:

• Air China is expected to become Star's 19th member and an announcement will be made shortly. A further Chinese member, this time a carrier based in Shanghai, is also expected to join at some stage.

• Differing service standards. As Business Traveller has previously reported not all airlines offer the same high standards in business class, while check-in services can also differ. The widening membership will compound the problem. Issues that have arisen include that of menu pricing (by Air Canada) (see Online news, January 5) and the few frills and baggage check policies (by Bmi) (see Online news, May 26, 2005). Member carriers seem to have come to terms with these developments and have adopted a 'get what you pay for' attitude. But they realise that these changes must be better explained to the travelling public.

For more information visit staralliance.com

Report by Julian Gregory

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