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How Star Alliance became the largest by market share

The first airline alliance founded, the Star Alliance , which is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, was launched on May 14, 1997, and it sought to revolutionize global travel. The organization united carriers from around the globe with the sole intention of improving global connectivity, helping streamline the passenger experience, and bringing the world closer together. In the nearly two decades since the organization was launched, the Star Alliance has amassed 25 different member airlines and operates a combined fleet of over 5,000 aircraft. The Star Alliance has beaten out its two primary rivals, Oneworld and SkyTeam, to both have the largest number of members and affiliates and the largest market share. According to research from Statista, of all the passengers that traveled worldwide in 2024, 17.4% were doing so on a Star Alliance-operated flight. SkyTeam's market share sat at a lower 13.7% and Oneworld's was around 11.9%, both significantly lower than the Star Alliance number. This obviously introduces a rather fascinating question. Why was the Star Alliance able to rapidly become the world's largest airline alliance and maintain its standing today? What decisions has the alliance made that helped it capture significantly more of the market than its competitors? In this article, we will attempt to find the answer to both of these questions, by carefully examining the alliance and its history.
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Employee struck and killed by vehicle in accident at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

An American Airlines employee working at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was struck and killed by a ramp vehicle while on the tarmac Monday, authorities said. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to a call at 9:38 a.m. for an employee struck by a vehicle on the tarmac and the person was pronounced dead on the scene, police said in a statement. The incident involved a single airline ramp vehicle, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport said, but no additional details on the incident were given. The airport said it is “working closely with airline and first responder partners in the ongoing investigation and is providing support as needed.” In a statement, American Airlines said they “are devastated by the accident” and are “focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time.” While news about accidents relating to airplanes has become more commonplace in recent years, death of workers in airport operations is relatively uncommon. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded five deaths in 2023 and three deaths in 2022.
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Ryanair blames Boeing delay as it cuts passenger forecast

Ryanair has been forced to cut its forecast for passenger numbers for a second time, as delivery delays from Boeing continue to dent its growth ambitions. Europe’s largest low-cost airline on Monday said it expected to carry 206mn passengers in its next fiscal year, which begins in April, down from a previous estimate of 210mn. The airline had already revised down the target because of problems at Boeing, lowering its forecast from 215mn to 210mn passengers in November. “While Boeing 737 production is recovering from Boeing’s strike in late 2024, we no longer expect Boeing to deliver sufficient aircraft ahead of summer 2025,” said Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary. Ryanair is Boeing’s largest customer in Europe and has seen its growth plans dented by the crisis at the US manufacturer. Over the past year, Boeing has suffered from a damaging strike and has had to slow production lines to improve manufacturing processes following a mid-air door panel blowout on a jet last January. Still, Ryanair’s CFO Neil Sorahan said he believed “things are improving operationally” at Boeing’s factories, following a trip to the US this month. “Hopefully they are turning the corner,” he said. Boeing is 38 planes behind its original delivery agreement with Ryanair for its 737 Max 8, and the airline still needs another nine planes before the summer season to be able to hit its scaled-back growth plans. Sorahan said he was confident in those deliveries and that Boeing would be able to catch up with the delivery schedule next winter.
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Colombia agrees to accept deportation flights after Trump threatens tariffs

Under threats from President Trump that included steep tariffs, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia has relented and will allow U.S. military planes to fly deportees into the country, after turning two transports back in response to what he called inhumane treatment. The two leaders had engaged in a war of words on Sunday after Colombia’s move to block Trump’s use of military aircraft in deporting thousands of unauthorized immigrants. But on Sunday night, the White House released a statement in which it said that because Petro had agreed to all of its terms, the tariffs and sanctions Trump had threatened would be “held in reserve.” Other penalties, such as visa sanctions, will remain in effect until the first planeload of deportees has arrived in Colombia, the statement said. “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” it added. Colombia’s foreign ministry released a statement soon afterward that said “we have overcome the impasse with the United States government.” It said the government would accept all deportation flights and “guarantee dignified conditions” for those Colombians on board. Petro began the day by announcing that he had turned back U.S. military planes carrying deported immigrants. This set off a furious back and forth with Trump, who in turn announced a barrage of tariffs and sanctions targeting the country, which has long been a top U.S. ally in Latin America. Trump said on social media that the United States would immediately impose a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports and would raise them to 50% after a week. The Trump administration would also “fully impose” banking and financial sanctions on Colombia, apply a travel ban on Colombian government officials and their associates, and revoke their visas, the president said.
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US opens probe into sudden movement on United Airlines flight from Nigeria

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Jan 27 it is investigating a United Airlines flight on Jan 24 from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington DC, in which a sudden aircraft movement led to injuries of passengers and cabin crew. The NTSB said the incident on United Flight 613 occurred as the Boeing 787 was flying in Ivory Coast airspace. Aviation officials in Ivory Coast delegated the investigation to the NTSB, which will issue a preliminary report within 30 days, the agency said. United said the flight to Washington Dulles in Virginia with 245 passengers, three pilots and eight flight attendants, returned to Lagos after the unexpected aircraft  movement and a technical issue. The plane landed safely in Lagos and four passengers and two flight attendants were seen at a hospital for minor injuries and have been released. “We are working with aviation authorities in the US and Nigeria to understand the cause,” United said.
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Fiji Airways cabin crew restrain and put tape over the mouth of disruptive passenger

A drunk and disruptive passenger on a flight from Fiji had her mouth taped up by a flight attendant after refusing to calm down. A video taken on the Fiji Airways flight from San Francisco to Nadi shows cabin crew restraining her and putting tape over her mouth. The woman, identified in a Fijian court as an Australian, can be heard yelling and being abusive in video posted on Facebook. Cabin crew are talking to the woman, and at one point she yells: “Don’t touch me”. In some of the video the woman appears to have clear tape over her mouth, but is still yelling. A flight attendant is seen holding a roll of tape, and leaning over the abusive woman. There is a sound of tape being ripped off the roll, and the attendant appears to place the tape over the passenger’s mouth, although a headrest obscures part of the video. The incident happened on Fiji Airways Flight FJ871 that left San Francisco on January 18 (local time) and arrived in Nadi on January 20, News.com.au reported.
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Aer Lingus staff to seek 4% pay boost

Aer Lingus cabin and ground crew will seek a 4% pay hike in coming weeks after pilots won a 17.75% boost last year following a dispute. Cabin and ground grew at the airline accepted a 12.25% increase in late 2023 before the pilots’ industrial action last summer. Unions including Siptu, Fórsa and Unite believe the pilots’ award triggered a clause in their own deals with Aer Lingus allowing their members to seek further increases should any other group in the company get better terms. Siptu organiser Terry Gill confirmed over the weekend that the organisations were seeking a meeting with the airline under the auspices of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss a 4% increase for their members.
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MPs call for delay to Gatwick expansion decision

A group of MPs have called on the government to delay the decision on expanding Gatwick Airport until current noise levels are monitored adequately at the site. The airport submitted a development consent order in 2023 to bring its northern runway, normally a taxiway, into regular use for routine flights. A final decision is expected by 27 February. Five MPs from Sussex, Surrey and Kent have asked transport secretary Heidi Alexander to delay that decision until the "true impact of noise" that the airport currently makes is understood. A spokesperson for Gatwick said the airport has a "network of state-of-the-art noise monitors" which provide "comprehensive coverage". Mike Martin and Tom Tugendhat, MPs for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge respectively, have signed the letter, alongside Dorking and Horley's MP Chris Coghlan. Mid Sussex MP Alison Bennett and Horsham's John Milne have also added their names. They claim that an "informed decision" on the Northern Runway Project cannot be made until adequate monitoring is put in place.
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Lufthansa to introduce free messaging on long-haul flights

Lufthansa has announced the launch of free messaging on all long-haul flights to destinations such as the US, Brazil, and Japan. Starting this summer, passengers can send and receive unlimited messages, including photos, through their smartphones or tablets using regular apps, irrespective of their travel class. Lufthansa Group CCO Dieter Vranckx said: “The introduction of free messaging on long-haul flights is another important step in continuously improving our customers’ overall travel experience. “We will continue to focus our efforts on services that are highly relevant to our customers.” Lufthansa Group airlines, including SWISS and Austrian Airlines, also provide free messaging on select long-haul flights. The service, available since 2024 on short and medium-haul flights with Lufthansa and on several Austrian Airlines planes, has been well received, according to the company. Lufthansa Airlines chief customer officer Heiko Reitz said: “What is already a great success on short and medium-haul flights will also be very popular with our guests on long-haul flights
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Jet2 now lets passengers drop off their baggage the night before their flight: How does it work?

British low-cost airline Jet2 is offering baggage check-in the night before your morning flight at select UK airports, making those early departures a bit easier to handle. Jet2’s ‘Twilight Check-in’ allows passengers who are flying before midday to drop bags off the evening before their morning flight at their UK departure airport between the hours of 4.30pm and 9pm. Passengers must have already checked in online, which is available any time from 28 days to 24 hours before the flight, via its website or app. The baggage drop-off service allows passengers to make their morning flight a little easier, by enabling them to bypass baggage check-in and breeze straight to security. The service is designed to be useful to those who live near the airport or are staying at a hotel close by. Getting your checked-in baggage into the care of the airline the night before will not only allow passengers to beat the early morning queues at the check-in desks but will potentially allow them more time to grab a drink, peruse the duty-free and find their gate, alleviating some of that pre-flight stress. However, Twilight Check-in is only available at 10 airports in the UK.
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India and China agree to resume air travel after nearly five years

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years, India's foreign ministry said on Monday, signalling a thaw in relations between the neighbours after a deadly 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border. Both sides will negotiate a framework on the flights in a meeting that will be held at an "early date", the ministry said after a meeting between India's top diplomat and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Tensions soured between the two nations after the 2020 clash, following which India made it difficult for Chinese companies to invest in the country, banned hundreds of popular apps and severed passenger routes, although direct cargo flights continued to operate between the countries. Relations have improved over the past four months with several high-level meetings, including talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia in October. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Beijing that the two countries should work in the same direction, explore more substantive measures and commit to mutual understanding. "Specific concerns in the economic and trade areas were discussed with a view to resolving these issues and promoting long-term policy transparency and predictability," the Indian foreign ministry statement said in a statement. Their meeting was the latest between the two Asian powers following a milestone agreement in October seeking to ease friction along their frontier.
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EgyptAir secures facility from Finance Ministry to expand fleet

The Egyptian Ministry of Finance has granted a facility valued at EGP20b to EgyptAir Holding Company to support its air fleet, government officials told Asharq Business. EgyptAir, owned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, received the funding last December as a part of financing to develop its air fleet. Accordingly, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will pay off this sum within an agreed-upon timeframe. The company seeks to increase the size of its fleet to 125 aircraft over the next five years from 65 aircraft now. This comes as the company awaits receiving the first batch of a deal that includes 18 Boeing 737-8 max aircraft and the purchase of 10 wide-bodied A350-900 aircraft from Airbus.
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Korean Air eyes Europe A350 operations in second-half of 2025

Korean Air’s first two Airbus A350-900s have entered commercial service, with the carrier first deploying them on short-haul flights. The A350s – the first two of 33 examples – began operating twice-daily flights between Seoul Incheon and Osaka, as well as between Seoul Incheon and Fukuoka. The SkyTeam carrier says the A350 will be initially deployed on Japanese flights, before operating to Taipei in March. By the second half of the year, Korean Air will deploy them on long-haul European flights, including to Madrid and Rome. Korean first announced its intention to order the A350 in March 2024, before firming the order up in less than a month. The 33-aircraft deal comprises six A350-900s and 27 -1000s. Its A350-900s are configured to seat 311 passengers in a two-class configuration, with 28 business-class seats and 283 economy-class seats. Korean has not disclosed the configuration for the larger -1000s. The A350s are expected to replace older widebodies. Airline Business data shows the airline’s existing widebody fleet to include Boeing 777s, 747s, 787s, as well as Airbus A330s and A380s.
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Why does Muan Airport mound remain unexplained one month later?

Why the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan International Airport was placed in such a hazardous location — and why it remained there for years — remains unanswered more than a month after the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash. The "gravely mistaken" mound, linked to the high death toll in the deadly collision, has become a focal point of scrutiny, with neither the government, the Korea Airports Corporation, nor the construction companies involved providing clear explanations or disclosing findings about its placement and safety compliance. An executive from a contractor involved in upgrading the localizer — a navigation aid facility linked to the high death toll in the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash — acknowledged the tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking and regrettable.” However, the executive offered no explanation for the facility’s flawed structure, stating only, “Our employees followed the regulations.” While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, one undeniable fact remains: the improper structure of the concrete mount supporting the localizer contributed to the collision and subsequent tragedy. Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Park Sang-woo acknowledged during a parliamentary inquiry on Jan. 14, saying, “Placing a hazardous facility in an emergency preparedness area was a grave mistake.” Story has more.
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China’s ‘Big Three’ warn of competition, supply chain as losses set to prolong

China’s three largest operators expect to continue their loss-making streak for 2024, amid a global supply chain crunch, as well as increased domestic competition and slower international recovery. The ‘Big Three’ – comprising Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – note in their respective earnings guidances that while overall recovery “gained momentum” in 2024, there were “operating pressures” that remained. Air China discloses a net loss forecast of CNY160 to 240m ($22 to 33m), an improvement from the CNY1b net loss in 2023. The Star Alliance carrier says it “made every effort to enhance efficiency” and “strengthened” yield management, which resulted in an improvement in earnings. Yet, it flags “an increasingly complex and volatile” operating environment, and “intensified” competition in its domestic operations. It is a sentiment echoed by compatriot China Eastern, which also saw “insufficient demand” for business trips on top of stiff competition. The Shanghai-based operator is forecasting a net loss of between CNY3.3 and 4.3b, down from 2023’s CNY8.2b net loss.
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AirAsia X gets two-month extension for AirAsia acquisition

AirAsia X has been allowed more time to complete its acquisition of the AirAsia group of airlines, as it finalises the terms of a fundraising deal. Airline chief Benyamin Ismail says AirAsia X reached a mutual agreement with AirAsia parent Capital A for a two-month extension, calling it a “pragmatic step” to ensure “all aspects” of the deal are “thoroughly and meticulously” addressed. The airline will also “finalise the definitive terms” for a proposed private placement – raising MYR1b ($228m) in gross proceeds – with identified investors. AirAsia X shareholders in October backed the carrier’s acquisition of AirAsia, days after Capital A shareholders did likewise. Capital A first announced the divestment plan in January, as part of efforts to restructure its business and exit its financially-distressed status. The deal will see AirAsia and AirAsia X managed under a single entity, with a combined fleet of Airbus A320-family narrowbodies and A330s, as well as an “enhanced network” spanning short- and medium-to-long-haul destinations.
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Jewel Changi Airport reports record footfall of over 80m in 2024

Jewel Changi Airport continued its strong recovery in 2024, hitting a record footfall of more than 80m people in 2024 – the highest since its opening in 2019. Announcing this on Jan 27, the operator of the retail and entertainment complex at Changi Airport said it saw a 10% year-on-year increase in footfall from about 74m people in 2023. There was also a 5% increase in sales in 2024, though Jewel did not provide specific sales figures for 2023, having cited commercial sensitivities then. Jewel said the share of overseas travellers increased to 35% of total footfall in 2024, with travellers from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines making up the top five markets. Singapore’s National Day, which fell on Aug 9, 2024, marked the busiest day for Jewel in 2024, when it achieved footfall traffic of 354,036 for the first time since 2020. Jewel added that it welcomed 1m people during the long National Day weekend from Aug 9 to 11, 2024, largely because of its celebrations and promotions. More specifically, the mall’s retail sales per sq ft grew by 6% in comparison with 2023.
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Japan's Cosmo to supply domestic SAF to 2 airlines from April

Cosmo Energy Holdings said on Monday it will start supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) from April, marking the first supply of domestically produced green fuel. Cosmo, Japan's third-biggest oil refiner, plans to start trial SAF production at its Sakai refinery in Osaka as early as this week, a company spokesperson told Reuters. It is aiming for full-scale production of 30,000 kilolitres per year beginning in April, they added. The refiner, in partnership with two other companies, plans to produce SAF from used cooking oil, marking the first large-scale production in Japan. Cosmo declined to disclose details, including the pricing and volume of SAF it plans to supply to the Japanese airlines.
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PAL to start direct flights to Beijing in March

PAL is set to boost its flights to China by operating non-stop flight services to Beijing in March, the flag carrier announced on Monday. PAL, operated by PAL Holdings, Inc., is set to operate flights to Beijing Capital International Airport starting March 30, it said in a statement. The company will operate non-stop flights to Beijing three times a week, every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, starting March 30, it said. PAL President and COO Stanley K. Ng said the new service is expected to boost tourism and enhance trade between the Philippines and China. “We believe that the Manila-Beijing service will help boost tourism, enhance trade, and deepen the friendly ties between the Filipino and Chinese people,” Ng said.
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Virgin challenges Qantas with European sale

Virgin Australia has launched a European price war with Qantas that will see it fly from Sydney to London for as little as $2,000 return. It marks the airline’s first aggressive move to market to European destinations since it stopped flying to the hub airports of Hong Kong in 2020 and Abu Dhabi in 2017 before entering administration in 2020. The low prices will also likely be seen as an attempt to convince the federal government to approve its deal with Qatar, which will enable flights to Doha. Qatar announced last year it would purchase a 25% stake in the Australian airline and, as part of the agreement, would ‘wet lease’ aircraft and crew to Virgin so it could fly 28 services a week to the Middle Eastern country’s capital. The “flash sale fares” are for travel between 17 June and 11 July 2025 on flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha (VA1/2, VA15/16 or VA21/22) and onwards connections to Europe. Economy class fares include Sydney to Paris from $1,927 return, Sydney to London from $2,035 return and Brisbane to Barcelona from $1,938 return.
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