Star Alliance’s 26 Brands, Explained

Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world, changed the flight game in 1997 when United Airlines, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and Lufthansa agreed to join forces.

Today, 762 million passengers fly annually using its 26 members. Combined, they cover 195 countries and 1,200 airports worldwide. At last count, Star Alliance’s revenue came in at $213.2 billion, and the network held almost a quarter share of the entire market.

By joining a frequent flyer program from one of its member airlines, passengers earn and redeem points across the entire network. The more passengers fly, the better the perks. Flyers begin with Silver Status, which affords them limited privileges, before advancing to Gold Status.

Interim CEO Charlotta Wieland currently leads the alliance with headquarters in Frankfurt and Singapore.

Here’s a brief overview of every member airline in the Star Alliance.

Aegean Airlines

Home nation: Greece

Markets served: 97 destinations across 45 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles+Bonus

Greece’s flagship joined Star Alliance in 2010. A multi-award-winning airline, Aegean has been steadily growing its network in recent years — at last count, Aegean served 134 airports with a fleet of 49 aircraft.

Air Canada

Home nation: Canada

Markets served: 210-plus destinations across 63 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Aeroplan

One of the founding members of Star Alliance, Air Canada is a top 20 airline in terms of size — it has a nearly 400-plane fleet that serves 200-plus airports. The carrier makes most of its revenue in passenger traffic ($14.2 million in 2022), which it runs alongside a smaller cargo business ($1.2 million).

Air China

Home nation: China

Markets served: 200-plus destinations across 42 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: PhoenixMiles

Air China became the first Chinese airline to join Star Alliance (and the fifth from Asia) in 2007. The Chinese flagship is considered one of China’s “Big Three” airlines, with a fleet of 490 aircraft at last count.

Air India

Home nation: India

Markets served: 85 destinations across 57 countries/territories

Loyalty programme: Flying Returns

Air India joined the Star Alliance in 2014, further consolidating the network’s reach in Asia. It is the national flag carrier with a fleet of 127 aircraft. The Tate Group conglomerate backs the airline.

Air New Zealand

Home nation: New Zealand

Markets served: 51 destinations across 18 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Airpoints

New Zealand’s flag carrier was one of the first new additions to Star Alliance when it joined in 1999. An innovator, Air New Zealand created the “Economy Skycouch” in 2011, bringing luxury to its affordable fares. It has a fleet of 101 aircraft.

ANA (All Nippon Airlines)

Home nation: Japan

Markets served: 104 destinations across 29 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: ANA Mileage Club

ANA made $8.6 billion in sales in 2021, making it one of the group’s biggest earners. Famed for its high-quality service, the airline has won SKYTRAX’s prestigious “5-Star Airline” rating every year since 2013. ANA joined Star in 1999.

Asiana Airlines

Home nation: South Korea

Markets served: 62 destinations across 21 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Asiana Club

Another airline with exceptional service, Asiana, is a certified “5-Star Airline”, according to SKYTRAX. The airline joined Star in 2003 and has a fleet of 77, which includes its sizeable cargo operation (11 aircraft).

Austrian Airlines

Home nation: Austria

Markets served: 130 destinations across 100 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

The highly successful Lufthansa Group owns Austrian Airlines, a Star Alliance member since 2000. It has a fleet of 63 aircraft.

Avianca

Home nation: Colombia

Markets served: 64 destinations across 37 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: LifeMiles

Avianca serves Latin America, with hubs in Costa Rica, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Ecuador. The airline joined Star Express in 2012.

Brussels Airlines

Home nation: Belgium

Markets served: 96 destinations across 55 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

Another member of the Lufthansa family, Brussels Airline, joined Star Alliance in 2009. It has a fleet of 38 aircraft and serves around 100 airports.

Copa Airlines

Home nation: Panama

Markets served: 75 destinations across 31 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: ConnectMiles

Panama’s flag carrier has been a part of the Star Alliance since 2012. The airline has been commended in the past for its high rate of punctuality (around 90 percent).

Croatia Airlines

Home nation: Croatia

Markets served: 38 destinations across 23 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

Croatia Airlines, one of the minor carriers in the Star Alliance, has a fleet of 13 aircraft. It joined the group in 2004.

Egypt Air

Home nation: Egypt

Markets served: 90 destinations across 47 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: EGYPTAIR Plus

Egypt Air joined Star Alliance in 2008, becoming the group’s first (and only) representative for North Africa and the Middle East.

Ethiopian Airlines

Home nation: Ethiopia

Markets served: 149 destinations across 75 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: ShebaMiles

Ethiopian Airlines’ large fleet (140, on the last count) has helped cement the airline as one of the largest in Africa in terms of passengers carried. The airline joined Star Alliance in 2011.

EVA Air

Home nation: Taiwan

Markets served: 62 destinations across 30 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Infinity MileageLands

EVA Air is one of the two largest airlines in Taiwan, with a fleet of 86 aircraft. Part of the wider Evergreen Group, EVA joined Star Alliance in 2013.

LOT Polish Airlines

Home nation: Poland

Markets served: 120 destinations across 57 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

Poland’s flagship carrier joined Star in 2003. A founding member of IATA, LOT is one of the oldest airlines in the world. It’s also one of the largest in Europe, with pre-pandemic passenger numbers hitting almost 12 million a year (2019).

Lufthansa

Home nation: Germany

Markets served: 183 destinations across 71 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

Where to start with Lufthansa. Not only is it one of the biggest, most well-respected airlines in the world, but it’s also one of the most lucrative — in 2021, the carrier made $15.5 billion in sales, second only to American Airlines. Lufthansa was a founding member of Star Alliance in 1997.

Scandinavian Airlines

Home nation: Denmark, Norway, Sweden

Markets served: 168 destinations across 36 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: EuroBonus

Scandinavian Airlines is the flagship carrier for Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It carries over 30 million passengers annually and is a founding member of Star Alliance.

Shenzhen Airlines

Home nation: China

Markets served: 74 destinations across 10 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Phoenix Miles

The second Chinese airline to join Star (2012), it has an enormous fleet of around 200 aircraft. The airline is predominantly domestic, serving 74 destinations across ten countries.

Singapore Airlines

Home nation: Singapore

Markets served: 75 destinations across 32 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Kris Flyer

Singapore’s flag carrier joined Star Alliance in 2000. It has a fleet of almost 150 aircraft.

South African Airways

Home nation: South Africa

Markets served: 35 destinations across 21 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: SAA Voyager

South Africa’s flag carrier became the first African member of Star Alliance when it joined in 2006. After a brief closure period due to financial issues, the airline resumed service in 2021.

Swiss

Home nation: Switzerland

Markets served: 102 destinations across 44 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles & More

Part of the Lufthansa Group, Swiss International Airlines joined the Star Alliance in 2006. It serves over 100 airports.

TAP Air Portugal

Home nation: Portugal

Markets served: 80-plus destinations across 30-plus countries and territories

Loyalty programme: TAP Miles&Go

TAP connects Europe to Africa and North, Central, and South America with a fleet of around 100 aircraft. It joined Star in 2005.

Thai Airways

Home nation: Thailand

Markets served: 60-plus destinations across 20 countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Royal Orchid Plus

Thailand’s flag carrier is a founding member of Star with extensive reach across Asia.

Turkish Airlines

Home nation: Turkey

Markets served: 270-plus destinations across 100-plus countries and territories

Loyalty programme: Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines’ enormous fleet (400-plus) transported 71.8 million passengers in 2022. The carrier joined Star Alliance in 2008.

United Airlines

Home nation: USA

Markets served: 350-plus destinations across 50-plus countries and territories

Loyalty programme: MileagePlus

A founding member of Star, United Airlines is the third-largest airline in the world in terms of sales ($15.4 billion in 2021). The carrier transported almost 70 million passengers in 2021 with a fleet of 887 aircraft.