Since its founding in 1997, Star Alliance and its member airlines have maintained a significant presence in Northern Europe. Loyal customers who travel to and from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have come to appreciate the many benefits of the superior customer experience and loyalty reciprocation that Star Alliance member airlines proudly provide globally, and in Scandinavia. SAS Scandinavian Airlines plans to exit Star Alliance on August 31, 2024. On behalf of our member airlines, we thank SAS and its employees for contributing to the superior customer experience for which Star Alliance is globally renowned. During this transition, the experience of our customers is top of mind. Star Alliance, its member airlines, and SAS intend to ensure that this change is seamless for customers, particularly with respect to previously booked flights. Members of frequent flyer programs should consult their individual airline programs directly with specific questions related to mileage accrual and redemption for travel within the Star Alliance network. Going forward, 17 Star Alliance member airlines will continue to offer direct flights to and from Scandinavia, including Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Thai, Turkish Airlines, and United. These Star Alliance member airlines will operate more than 3,700 flights per month to Scandinavia from 23 hubs worldwide, offering customers connections to more than 1,100 international destinations — the most by any airline alliance. In the future, Star Alliance member airlines may bring additional service to Scandinavia. On September 1, Star Alliance will have 25 member airlines dedicated to fulfilling and enhancing their customers’ global journeys. Star Alliance continues to hold its position as the world's largest and foremost global airline alliance, providing over 17,000 daily departures and serving more than 1,100 airports across 187 countries. In Scandinavia, Star Alliance and its member airlines will continue to provide customers with a wide choice of travel options and focus on delivering a superior customer experience.<br/>
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Scandinavian carrier SAS is to leave Star Alliance for SkyTeam at the end of August, following the recapitalisation by a consortium which includes SkyTeam partner Air France-KLM. SAS states that passengers will be able to obtain benefits with “most” SkyTeam airlines from 1 September. The Scandinavian operator was a founding member of Star Alliance in 1997 but the airline’s restructuring under US Chapter 11 has resulted in the change of allegiance. Air France-KLM is part of a consortium providing new equity to SAS and it will hold a minority share in the carrier. SAS says it is in “advanced negotiations” with SkyTeam and a number of its carriers to develop “extensive” commercial relationships. “We are thrilled to progress on our alliance transition journey and pave the way for delightful new destinations and loyalty programme benefits across the world,” says SAS CCO Paul Verhagen. SAS says members of its EuroBonus loyalty scheme – which will remain in place after its Star exit – will have SkyTeam benefits “similar” to those offered with Star carriers. The airline says it intends to give customers access to 19 new airlines and over 1,000 destinations. Star Alliance says it has held a “significant presence” in northern Europe and Scandinavia, and that 17 of its member carriers will continue to offer services to the region. It says it intends the SAS exit to be “seamless”, particularly regarding previously-booked flights. Star Alliance will still have 25 member airlines and will still offer over 3,700 flights per month to Scandinavian destinations after SAS’s departure. “In the future, Star Alliance member airlines may bring additional service to Scandinavia,” it adds.<br/>
United Airlines Holdings Inc. is delaying two new routes due to growth restrictions imposed while US aviation authorities carry out a safety review of the carrier. A route between Newark, New Jersey, and Faro, Portugal, that was set to begin May 24 will be put off until summer 2025, United said Monday via email. A separate route between Tokyo and Cebu, Philippines, has been moved from July 31 to Oct. 27. The changes show how the airline’s expansion is slowing amid the FAA’s review, which was prompted by a series of headline-grabbing incidents in recent weeks, including an aircraft running off a Houston runway and a wheel falling off another plane just after takeoff. The domestic industry has been under heightened scrutiny since a fuselage panel broke loose during an Alaska Airlines flight Jan. 5. Bloomberg reported last month that regulators were weighing a clampdown on United’s ability to grow, including restricting new routes and barring it from flying paying customers on newly delivered aircraft. The FAA subsequently said it would increase oversight, delaying some United activities. The carrier is conducting its own internal review.A United spokesperson confirmed that the schedule changes are related to the FAA review, which affected some certification activities. Customers impacted by the delays can seek full refunds or be rebooked on a partner airline without a fee, the carrier said.<br/>
Star Alliance carrier Air Canada is celebrating its return to Singapore after more than 30 years with a significant promotion for frequent flyers. Passengers who book the route this month and complete a round-trip journey will receive up to 15,000 bonus points to celebrate the momentous occasion. Passengers must be members of Air Canada's frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, to participate. The offer is valid on all flights departing from Canada, including flights that continue onward via Singapore across partner airlines.<br/>
Turkish Airlines closed 2023 carrying 83.4m passengers with a 23.5% increase in domestic capacity and 16% increase in international capacity compared to 2022. The airline said: “Our company increased its domestic passenger capacity by 23.5% compared to 2022, with number of passengers surpassing 30m. Furthermore, on international routes, capacity rose by 16% and Turkish Airlines carried 53m passengers with an increase of 14%. Notably, the number of passengers in the European countries with significant Turkish populations climbed by more than 20% year-over-year. While global international airline capacity lagged 12% behind the 2019 figures in 2023, as reported by the IATA, Turkish Airlines set itself apart from the industry by exceeding its 2019 international capacity by 27%. Moreover, as a result of our country’s investments in aviation infrastructure, Istanbul Airport emerged as the leading European airport in terms of daily number of flights. Flying to 133 countries in 364 destinations with 24 freighters and 416 passenger aircraft, Turkish Cargo increased its freight ton kilometers by 16% compared to 2019. Tripling its market share in air freight market in the last 10 years, our company bolstered its success by ranking fourth among the world’s top air cargo carriers according to IATA’s 2023 data.<br/>
This summer, Turkish Airlines is launching a new nonstop route between Istanbul and Denver to provide greater convenience and connectivity to travelers in both cities. This long-haul service will operate year-round and become Denver’s longest nonstop route, covering a distance of 6,130 miles, nearly 400 miles more than the current longest flight to Tokyo Narita International Airport by United Airlines and All Nippon Airways. With this new service, Turkish Airlines will add Denver as its 14th destination in the United States and make it the fifth Star Alliance member to serve the city, alongside Air Canada, Copa Airlines, Lufthansa, and United. Turkish Airlines will operate the new route with its Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a capacity of up to 316 passengers across Economy and Business Class.<br/>
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest airline, said Monday that it is working "with great attention" to continue its growth as it marked 78 years of operation. The Ethiopian flag carrier on Monday organized a special flight to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to mark its inaugural international service in 1946. It said the flight highlighted its "legacy of resilience and innovation." "From our humble beginning back in 1946, we have come to be the aviation giant in Africa that we are now, pioneering the African aviation with many first innovation introductions to Africa along the way. As we are maturing beautifully, our commitment only gets stronger," an Ethiopian Airlines statement quoted Mesfin Tassew, the airlines' CEO, as saying. Ethiopian Airlines is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan, called Vision 2035, that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secured, market-driven and customer-focused passenger and cargo transport, aviation training, airport management and ground services, among others.<br/>
A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight bound for Singapore turned around and landed at the airport in Sydney it departed from, about an hour after take-off on April 7. Flight SQ 232 landed at Sydney International Airport at 12.42pm local time, after a technical issue linked to its flaps was found, said an SIA spokesman in response to queries. The Airbus A380 aircraft, which is 12 years and six months old, was carrying 474 customers and 27 crew members. It was originally expected to leave Sydney at 11am local time and land in Singapore at 5.30pm. In response to queries, the spokesman said the technical issue was resolved by engineers on the ground and the plane took off again for Singapore at 4.19pm local time. It touched down in Changi Airport at 10.24pm - about five hours after its original arrival time. “SIA sincerely apologises to all affected customers for any inconvenience caused,” the spokesman said. He added that customers were provided with refreshments and all necessary assistance. <br/>