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. 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 % for others. In 2019, by number of passengers, Star Alliance was leading 762 million, followed by SkyTeam (630 million) and Oneworld (535 million).

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). 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. 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).

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. In 1990, the African Joint Air Services (AJAS) Accord between Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia led to the launch of Alliance Air in 1994, with South African Airways, Air Tanzania, Uganda Airlines and the governments of Uganda and Tanzania as shareholders. 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. Other alliances would struggle for years to overcome the transnational barriers and lack of antitrust immunity, and still do so. 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. The alliance chose Young & Rubicam for advertising, with a budget of $25 million (€18 million). which brought competing airlines to form Oneworld in 1999 and SkyTeam in 2000. 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). Then in September 2011, Branson said that Virgin Atlantic would join one of the existing alliances; this idea was repeated in October 2012. In December 2012, Delta Air Lines purchased Singapore Airlines' 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £224 million. Virgin America was absorbed into Alaska Airlines, which joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021. 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. 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 are Air Austral, Air Mauritius, Air Madagascar, Air Seychelles, and Int'Air Îles. On January 18, 2016, the first alliance of low-cost carriers was formed, U-FLY Alliance. The founding members—HK Express, Lucky Air, Urumqi Air, and West Air—are all affiliated with HNA Group, although the alliance is also seeking airlines not within the group. On May 16, 2016, the world's largest alliance of low-cost carriers was formed, Value Alliance. The founding members were Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Jeju Air, Nok Air, NokScoot, Scoot Airlines, Tigerair, Tigerair Australia, and Vanilla Air.

Current alliances

Star Alliance

Star Alliance, founded in 1997, currently has 25 members: Aegean Airlines, 2010 🇨🇦 Air Canada, founder 🇨🇳 Air China, 2007 🇮🇳 Air India, 2014 🇳🇿 Air New Zealand, 1999 🇯🇵 All Nippon Airways, 1999 🇰🇷 Asiana Airlines, 2003 🇦🇹 Austrian Airlines, 2000 🇨🇴 Avianca, 2012 🇧🇪 Brussels Airlines, 2009 🇵🇦 Copa Airlines, 2012 Croatia Airlines, 2004 🇪🇬 EgyptAir, 2008 🇪🇹 Ethiopian Airlines, 2011 🇹🇼 EVA Air, 2013 🇵🇱 LOT Polish Airlines, 2003 🇩🇪 Lufthansa, founder 🇨🇳 Shenzhen Airlines, 2012 Singapore Airlines, 2000 South African Airways, 2006 Swiss International Air Lines, 2006 TAP Air Portugal, 2005 🇹🇭 Thai Airways International, founder 🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines, 2008 🇺🇸 United Airlines, founder Former members: • Adria Airways, 2004–2019, defunct • 🇦🇺 Ansett Australia, 1999–2001, defunct • 🇫🇮 Blue1, 2004–2012, defunct • 🇬🇧 BMI, 2000–2012, absorbed into British Airways • 🇺🇸 Continental Airlines, 2009–2012, merged with United Airlines • 🇲🇽 Mexicana de Aviación, 2000–2004, joined Oneworld in 2009 • 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 Scandinavian Airlines, founder, 1997–2024, joined SkyTeam in 2024 • 🇨🇳 Shanghai Airlines, 2007–2010, merged with China Eastern Airlines and joined SkyTeam in 2011 • 🇪🇸 Spanair, 2003–2012, defunct • 🇸🇻 TACA, 2012–2013, merged with Avianca • 🇧🇷 Avianca Brazil, 2015–2019, defunct • 🇧🇷 TAM Airlines, 2010–2014, merged with LAN Airlines and joined Oneworld in 2014 • 🇺🇸 US Airways, 2004–2014, joined Oneworld as an affiliate member of American Airlines • 🇧🇷 Varig, 1997–2007, defunct

Star Alliance Connecting Partners

Star Alliance Intermodal Partnership

Oneworld

Oneworld, founded in 1999, currently has 13 members: 🇺🇸 Alaska Airlines, 2021 🇺🇸 American Airlines, founder 🇬🇧 British Airways, founder 🇭🇰 Cathay Pacific, founder 🇫🇮 Finnair, 1999 🇪🇸 Iberia Airlines, 1999 🇯🇵 Japan Airlines, 2007 🇲🇾 Malaysia Airlines, 2013 🇦🇺 Qantas, founder 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways, 2013 🇲🇦 Royal Air Maroc, 2020 🇯🇴 Royal Jordanian, 2007 🇱🇰 SriLankan Airlines, 2014 Former members: • 🇮🇪 Aer Lingus, 2000–2007, left the alliance • 🇩🇪 Air Berlin, 2012–2017, defunct • 🇨🇦 Canadian Airlines, founder, 1999–2000, acquired by Air Canada • 🇧🇷 LATAM Brasil, 2014–2020 • 🇨🇱 LATAM Chile, 2000–2020 • 🇭🇺 Malév Hungarian Airlines, 2007–2012, defunct • 🇲🇽 Mexicana de Aviación, 2009 (ceased operations in 2010) • 🇷🇺 S7 Airlines, 2010–2022, suspended from alliance • 🇺🇸 US Airways, 2014–2015, merged with American Airlines Future members:

SkyTeam

SkyTeam, founded in 2000, currently has 19 members: 🇦🇷 Aerolíneas Argentinas, 2012 🇲🇽 Aeroméxico, founder 🇪🇸 Air Europa, 2007 🇫🇷 Air France, founder 🇹🇼 China Airlines, 2011 🇨🇳 China Eastern Airlines, 2011 🇺🇸 Delta Air Lines, founder 🇮🇩 Garuda Indonesia, 2014 🇮🇹 ITA Airways, 2021 🇰🇪 Kenya Airways, 2007 🇳🇱 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, 2004 🇰🇷 Korean Air, founder 🇱🇧 Middle East Airlines, 2012 🇸🇦 Saudia, 2012 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 Scandinavian Airlines, 2024 TAROM, 2010 🇻🇳 Vietnam Airlines, 2010 🇬🇧 Virgin Atlantic, 2023 🇨🇳 XiamenAir, 2012 Former members: • 🇷🇺 Aeroflot, 2006–2022, suspended from alliance • 🇮🇹 Alitalia, 2001–2021, defunct • 🇨🇳 China Southern Airlines, 2007–2018 • 🇺🇸 Continental Airlines, 2004–2009, joined Star Alliance in 2009 • 🇵🇦 Copa Airlines, 2007–2009, joined Star Alliance in 2012 • 🇨🇿 Czech Airlines, 2001–2024, defunct • 🇺🇸 Northwest Airlines, 2004–2010, merged with Delta Air Lines

Vanilla Alliance

Vanilla Alliance, founded in 2015, currently has 5 members: 🇷🇪 Air Austral, founder 🇲🇬 Air Madagascar, founder 🇲🇺 Air Mauritius, founder 🇸🇨 Air Seychelles, founder 🇰🇲 Int'Air Îles, founder

U-FLY Alliance

U-FLY Alliance, founded in 2016, currently has 4 members: 🇰🇷 Eastar Jet, 2016 🇨🇳 Lucky Air, founder 🇨🇳 Urumqi Air, founder 🇨🇳 West Air, founder Former members:

Value Alliance

Value Alliance, founded in 2016, currently has 5 members: 🇵🇭 Cebu Pacific, founder 🇵🇭 Cebgo, founder 🇰🇷 Jeju Air, founder 🇹🇭 Nok Air, founder 🇸🇬 Scoot, founder Former members:

Statistics

Notes and references