Star Alliance has once again won the title of World’s Best Airline Alliance at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards this year. The Alliance’s famed Los Angeles lounge has also maintained its position of World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge for the seventh year running. Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias received the awards at a ceremony held at the Paris Air Show. Delighted at the win, Mr Panagiotoulias said: “Star Alliance offers a robust network and promises seamless journeys. We are very happy to learn that millions of flyers have recognised the exceptional value our alliance extends. With the skies getting busier, we welcome many more flyers to experience what Star Alliance and its 26 member airlines stand for.” Mr Panagiotoulias also congratulated the team and continued: “The resilience and hard work of every single employee of Star Alliance and its member airlines through a tough 2022 has paid off with this win. I receive this honour on their behalf, and encourage them to strive for more this year and beyond.” Star Alliance, which offers the widest network in the sky, is committed to enhancing the customer experience through a comprehensive strategy focusing on digitalising the journey, extending unparalleled loyalty benefits, and launching industry-first innovations such as the Intermodal Partnership model with the German rail network, Deutsche Bahn, and the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card for the Australian market recently. The Star Alliance Los Angeles Airport lounge is one of most highly rated airport lounges bagging several prestigious awards consistently. With an outdoor terrace that offers enviable views, the lounge is a visual delight by the day and a vibrant energetic space by the evening. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said: "We congratulate Star Alliance on this fabulous double achievement in the World Airline Awards, receiving both the World's Best Airline Alliance, and for having the World's Best Airline Alliance Lounge. The Star Alliance lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal has long been a customer favourite having previously been recognised as an award-winning lounge."<br/>
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United Airlines Ventures (UAV) is in “active discussions” with airlines, lessors and major oil companies to join the Sustainable Flight Fund, a venture capital fund launched and managed by United in February aimed at supporting start-up firms with technology to increase the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). “We already have investments from GE, Honeywell and Air Canada, and we have another seven or eight that we’re about to announce in the coming month or two,” Mike Leskinen, president of UAV, told FlightGlobal during an interview at the show. The fund started with $100m in investment from United and its inaugural partners, which also include Boeing and JPMorgan Chase, and it will grow up to $300m as more partners invest, he explains. “We are writing cheques from $5m to $25m for start-ups that are doing everything from micro algae that can be used to boost sustainable aviation fuel to companies like Svante that does point source capture of carbon dioxide,” says Leskinen. The fund is open to all players and airlines, including competitors to United, stresses Leskinen. “If we just tried to make this about United or tried to make this a competitive advantage for United, we’re not going to change the industry,” he says. “And if we don’t change the industry, flight shaming is only going to get worse in Europe and it’s going to come to the US. This is about decarbonising this business in a real way, in-sector, and taking responsibility for our emissions,” says Leskinen. After kicking off by supporting start-ups, the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund will likely move on to sign SAF offtake deals as the manufacturers build their production capability, says Leskinen. United has already invested in the future production of three billion gallons of SAF, which it claims is the most of any airline in the world.<br/>
Sydney and Melbourne Airports have both confirmed they are in talks with Turkish Airlines for flights to Istanbul. The Turkish flag carrier is understood to be considering three services per week between Istanbul and Sydney or Melbourne via Singapore from late 2023 or early 2024 using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, with a potential for more services depending on government approval, as reported in The Australian. “Sydney Airport is working closely with Turkish Airlines and the NSW Government to bring this exciting new opportunity forward,” a spokesperson for Sydney Airport said. “Turkish Airlines has an unparalleled network and its home base in Istanbul is a destination which continues to grow in popularity with Australian travellers, along with other destinations across Turkey.” Melbourne Airport is also “working closely” with Turkish Airlines, according to a spokesperson. “Melbourne’s growing population and large Turkish community combined with Melbourne Airport’s 24/7 operations and integrated terminal precinct present a compelling case. Talks are progressing, but a final decision is yet to be made,” the spokesperson said. British Airways is currently the only European airline that flies into Australia, with Austrian Airlines having pulled out in 2007. BA flies daily between Sydney and London (Heathrow) via Singapore.<br/>
National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been voted the world’s best airline in a global poll of more than 20m travellers, wresting the top spot from Qatar Airways. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, SIA had finished second behind the Middle Eastern carrier in the annual world rankings done by London-based research firm Skytrax. Travellers of more than 100 nationalities rated over 325 airlines in surveys conducted between September 2022 and May 2023. Based on the poll, Qatar Airways was ranked second, Japan’s All Nippon Airways was in third place, with Emirates and Japan Airlines coming in fourth and fifth, respectively. It is the fifth time SIA has taken home the gold prize. The airline also bagged the Best First Class Airline, Best First Class Comfort Amenities, and Best Airline in Asia titles at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony, which was held on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show.<br/>
Korean Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Kang Seog-hoon expressed confidence over Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines, Tuesday, stressing that he does not consider a "Plan B," in preparation for failure, at all necessary. "We expect the merger to be concluded during the third quarter of this year," Kang said during a press conference marking the first anniversary of his term. "This is not the time to prepare for failure. This is the time to put in all of our effort." Speaking to reporters at its headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Kang noted that the acquisition has been his main focus since Hanwha Group took over Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) this year. His efforts have included meetings with the European Union's authorities in January and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in May. So far, the acquisition has obtained approval from 10 countries and is currently awaiting approval from the U.S., the European Union and Japan, according to the bank. Kang then highlighted KDB's achievements under his leadership during the past year. <br/>