View Full Version : 3 new airlines joining Star, who are they?
mmeteesside
5th Jun 2004, 08:12
There are 3 airlines joining Star Alliance, supposed to be announced today, any idea who they are?
They are supposed to be
> a European regional airline
> a far east airline (Air China and China Eastern being mentioned)
> either SAA or a middle-east airline
mmeteesside
MME Movements (http://www.mmemovements.tk)
Maybe TAP for the regional european airline?
ALex
Can't see TAP being too happy at being called a "Regional" airline !
I'll guess for this candidate at Blue 1 in Finland. The old Air Botnia, recently changed livery to look just like SAS with whom they do a lot of code sharing. Lets them stand up better to Finnair's One World dominanca of their home market.
AIRBOY
5th Jun 2004, 09:53
according to the star alliance website, the new members are south african airways, TAP and blue 1!
http://www.staralliance.com/star_alliance/star/frame/main_10.html
So it seems that TAP is a Far Eastern airline ! Must be those leased Air Macao Airbuses in the fleet !
I see the press release on the Star website says:
Three new member applications approved for Star Alliance.
The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, unanimously approved the membership applications of South African Airways and TAP Air Portugal at their meeting in Singapore on June 5. At the same meeting the CEB also approved the first regional Star Alliance member Blue1.Talk about being damned with faint praise. "OK Blue 1, it was unanimous for the other two but not for you".
Blue 1 is in fact a SAS company. Behind Blue 1 hides Helsinki-based Air Botnia, which renamed last year.
Alain