Airline alliance

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates An airline alliance is an aviation industry arrangement between two or more airlines agreeing to cooperate on a substantial level. Alliances may provide marketing branding to facilitate travelers making inter-airline codeshare connections within countries. This branding may involve unified aircraft liveries of member aircraft.[1]

In 2015, Star Alliance was the largest with 23% of total scheduled traffic in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs)/revenue passenger miles (RPMs), followed by SkyTeam with 20.4% and Oneworld with 17.8%, leaving 38.8% for others.[2] In 2019, by number of passengers, Star Alliance was leading 762 million,[3] followed by SkyTeam (630 million)[4] and Oneworld (535 million).[5]

Rationale

Benefits can consist of an extended network, often realised through codeshare agreements. Many alliances started as only codeshare networks. Cost reductions come from sharing operation facilities (e.g. catering or computer systems), operation staff (e.g. ground handling personnel, at check-in and boarding desks), investments and purchases (e.g. in order to negotiate extra volume discounts).[6] Traveler benefits can include lower prices due to lowered operational costs for a given route, different times to choose from, more destinations within easy reach, shorter travel times, more options of airport lounges shared with alliance members, fast track access on all alliance members if having frequent flyer status, faster mileage rewards by earning miles for a single account on several different carriers, round-the-world tickets, enabling travellers to fly over the world for a relatively low price.[7]

Airline alliances may also create disadvantages for the traveller, 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 on the same route. This might be especially true between hub cities for each airline. e.g., flights between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (a Delta Air Lines fortress hub) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (a KLM fortress hub).[8][9][10]

History

The first airline alliance was formed in the 1930s, when Panair do Brasil and its parent company Pan American World Airways agreed to exchange routes to Latin America.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The first large alliance began in 1989, when Northwest Airlines and KLM agreed to large-scale codesharing. In 1992, the Netherlands signed the first open skies agreement with the United States, in spite of objections from the European Union, which gave both countries unrestricted landing rights on the other's soil. Normally landing rights are granted for a fixed number of flights per week to a fixed destination. Each adjustment requires negotiations, often between governments rather than between the companies involved. In return, the United States granted antitrust immunity to the alliance between Northwest Airlines and KLM. This alliance continues to exist today (as of 2025) with KLM as a SkyTeam member and Northwest's successor airline Delta also being a member. Other alliances would struggle for years to overcome the transnational barriers and lack of antitrust immunity, and still do so.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

On May 14, 1997, an agreement was announced forming the Star Alliance with five airlines on three continents: United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air Canada, and Lufthansa.[11][12] The alliance chose Young & Rubicam for advertising, with a budget of $25 million (€18 million).[13][11] which brought competing airlines to form Oneworld in 1999 and SkyTeam in 2000.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 2010 Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin Group, announced his intention to form a fourth alliance among Virgin branded airlines (Virgin Atlantic; Virgin America; and the Virgin Australia Holdings group of airlines).[14] Then in September 2011, Branson said that Virgin Atlantic would join one of the existing alliances;[15] this idea was repeated in October 2012.[16] In December 2012, Delta Air Lines purchased Singapore Airlines' 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £224 million.[17] Virgin America was absorbed into Alaska Airlines by 2018, which joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021.[18][19] Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in 2023.[20]

On February 14, 2013, it was announced that American Airlines and US Airways would merge, retaining the American Airlines name and would remain in the Oneworld alliance. US Airways' participation in Star Alliance lapsed. In 2012, in South America, LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines began their merger. In March 2014, with the merger complete, TAM left Star Alliance and became part of LAN in Oneworld.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

On September 21, 2015, the Vanilla Alliance was formed between several airlines based in the Indian Ocean region, in order to improve air connectivity within the region. The founding members were Air Austral, Air Mauritius, Air Madagascar, Air Seychelles, and Int'Air Îles.[21]

U-FLY Alliance, the first alliance of low-cost carriers (LCCs), was formed in January 2016, comprising HK Express, Lucky Air, Urumqi Air, and West Air (all affiliated with HNA Group).[22] In May 2016, the world's largest alliance of LCCs was formed, Value Alliance, including founding members Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Jeju Air, Nok Air, NokScoot, Scoot, Tigerair, Tigerair Australia and Vanilla Air.[23] Neither alliance remains active as of 2025.

Current alliances

Star Alliance

File:Star Alliance tails at Tokyo Narita Airport - Thai, United, Swiss and SAS.jpg
Three current members and one former member of Star Alliance at Tokyo Narita Airport Thai, United, Swiss and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the latter moved to SkyTeam in 2024
File:JA899A@PEK (20201229153435).jpg
Boeing 787-9 of All Nippon Airways

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Star Alliance, founded in 1997, currently has 25 members:[24]

Template:Flagicon Aegean Airlines, 2010
Template:Flagicon Air Canada, founder
Template:Flagicon Air China, 2007
Template:Flagicon Air India, 2014
Template:Flagicon Air New Zealand, 1999
Template:Flagicon All Nippon Airways, 1999
Template:Flagicon Asiana Airlines, 2003
Template:Flagicon Austrian Airlines, 2000
Template:Flagicon Avianca, 2012
Template:Flagicon Brussels Airlines, 2009
Template:Flagicon Copa Airlines, 2012
Template:Flagicon Croatia Airlines, 2004
Template:Flagicon EgyptAir, 2008
Template:Flagicon Ethiopian Airlines, 2011
Template:Flagicon EVA Air, 2013
Template:Flagicon LOT Polish Airlines, 2003
Template:Flagicon Lufthansa, founder
Template:Flagicon Shenzhen Airlines, 2012
Template:Flagicon Singapore Airlines, 2000
Template:Flagicon South African Airways, 2006
Template:Flagicon Swiss International Air Lines, 2006
Template:Flagicon TAP Air Portugal, 2005
Template:Flagicon Thai Airways International, founder
Template:Flagicon Turkish Airlines, 2008
Template:Flagicon United Airlines, founder

Future members:
Template:Flagicon ITA Airways, Lufthansa takeover, 2026

Former members: Template:Columns-list

Star Alliance Connecting Partners

Star Alliance Intermodal Partnership

Oneworld

File:CN-RGB - Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner - Royal Air Maroc.jpg
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-8

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Oneworld, founded in 1999, currently has 15 members:[28]

Template:Flagicon Alaska Airlines, 2021
Template:Flagicon American Airlines, founder
Template:Flagicon British Airways, founder
Template:Flagicon Cathay Pacific, founder
Template:Flagicon Fiji Airways, 2025
Template:Flagicon Finnair, 1999
Template:Flagicon Iberia, 1999
Template:Flagicon Japan Airlines, 2007
Template:Flagicon Malaysia Airlines, 2013
Template:Flagicon Oman Air, 2025
Template:Flagicon Qantas, founder
Template:Flagicon Qatar Airways, 2013
Template:Flagicon Royal Air Maroc, 2020
Template:Flagicon Royal Jordanian, 2007
Template:Flagicon SriLankan Airlines, 2014

Future members:

Former members: Template:Columns-list

SkyTeam

File:PK-GII (Soekarno-Hatta Airport, 29 December 2017).jpg
Boeing 777-300ER of Garuda Indonesia

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". SkyTeam, founded in 2000, currently has 18 members:[29]

Template:Flagicon Aerolíneas Argentinas, 2012
Template:Flagicon Aeroméxico, founder
Template:Flagicon Air Europa, 2007
Template:Flagicon Air France, founder
Template:Flagicon China Airlines, 2011
Template:Flagicon China Eastern Airlines, 2011
Template:Flagicon Delta Air Lines, founder
Template:Flagicon Garuda Indonesia, 2014
Template:Flagicon Kenya Airways, 2007
Template:Flagicon KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, 2004
Template:Flagicon Korean Air, founder
Template:Flagicon Middle East Airlines, 2012
Template:Flagicon Saudia, 2012
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Scandinavian Airlines, 2024
Template:Flagicon TAROM, 2010
Template:Flagicon Vietnam Airlines, 2010
Template:Flagicon Virgin Atlantic, 2023
Template:Flagicon XiamenAir, 2012

Former members: Template:Columns-list

Vanilla Alliance

File:ATR72 3B-NBG.jpg
ATR 72-500 of Air Mauritius.

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Vanilla Alliance, founded in 2015, currently has 4 members:[30]

Template:Flagicon Air Austral, founder
Template:Flagicon Madagascar Airlines, founder
Template:Flagicon Air Mauritius, founder
Template:Flagicon Air Seychelles, founder

Former members:

Template:Flagicon Int'Air Îles, founder, 2015–2024, defunct

Former alliances

U-FLY Alliance

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". U-FLY Alliance, founded in 2016, had 4 members:[31]

Template:Flagicon Eastar Jet, 2016
Template:Flagicon Lucky Air, founder
Template:Flagicon Urumqi Air, founder
Template:Flagicon West Air, founder

Former members:

Value Alliance

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Value Alliance, founded in 2016, had 5 members:[32]

Template:Flagicon Cebu Pacific, founder
Template:Flagicon Cebgo, founder
Template:Flagicon Jeju Air, founder
Template:Flagicon Nok Air, founder
Template:Flagicon Scoot, founder

Former members:

Statistics

Alliance Members Passengers
/year 		Countries
served 		Destination Fleet Employees Revenue
/year (US$) 		Flights
/day 		RPK[2]
Star Alliance[33] 26 642.1 Mn 195 1,360 5,000 432,603 179.05 Bn 19,000 1536 Bn 23%
SkyTeam[34] 19 665.4 Mn 175 1,062 3,937 481,691[35] 140.98 Bn[35] 17,343 1362 Bn 20.4%
Oneworld[36] 13 557.4 Mn 161 1,016 3,560 382,913 130.92 Bn 13,814 1189 Bn 17.8%
Value Alliance[37] (defunct) 7 180 Mn 30 183 554 - - 400 107 Bn 1.6%
U-FLY Alliance (defunct) 8 200 Mn 18 149 593 - - 420 40 Bn 0.6%
Vanilla Alliance 5 2.3 Mn 26 89 46 - - - -
File:AirlineMarketShareWithinRegion.gif
Airline alliance market share by network capacity 2007

See also

Notes and references

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Wikivoyage

Template:Airline alliances Template:Commercial air travel Template:Portal bar

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