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Air China joins Star Alliance

Air China Limited And Shanghai Airline Limited Join Star Alliance, The World’s Largest Airline Alliance, In Spectacular Terminal 3 Ceremony At Beijing Capital International Airport.

December 12, 2007, Beijing. Air China Limited and Shanghai Airlines Limited today announced they have officially joined Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance in a spectacular ceremony at Beijing Capital International Airport’s new Terminal 3.

To commemorate this special event, two flights from Shanghai to Beijing were conducted with all 19 Star Alliance CEOs: one on board of a specially chartered Air China A330 aircraft and the other a Shanghai Airlines B767, each newly painted in Star Alliance livery. An official joining ceremony featuring the CEOs and high ranking Chinese government officials was held in the new Terminal 3, which will open in March for the Olympic Games in 2008.

Mr. Li Jiaxiang, the General Manager of China National Aviation Holding Company and Chairman, Board of Directors, Air China Company, said economic globalization was putting more competitive pressure on individual companies and that one way forward to meet these challenges was for carriers like Air China and Shanghai Airlines to join an alliance like Star Alliance to improve their overall competitiveness.

“By joining with 17 other leading airlines, Air China and Shanghai Airlines enhance their abilities to compete, creating, for them, a “win-win.” situation. They are better placed to service their customers with higher value services,” Mr Li said.

Air China will, by joining Star Alliance, be able to offer customers a wider range of destinations through interlining and code sharing and also an increased range of services at airports, with the aim of creating a service that is as seamless as possible.

Mr. Zhou Chi, Chairman, Board of Directors, Shanghai Airline Company, said joining Star Alliance will help promote its Pudong Airport hub. Terminal two, the second stage terminal development at Pudong Airport will become a “Star Alliance” terminal under the alliance’s “Move Under One Roof “strategy. It will offer services for 11 members Star Alliance members servicing Shanghai through its southern terminal building.

Mr. Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO, said with Air China and Shanghai Airlines joining during Star Alliance’s 10th anniversary year “this is the best birthday present the alliance can have.”

“The two Chinese airlines expand Star Alliance to 19 members which will ensure more convenient air travel and make Star Alliance’s global network stronger, especially in the rapidly growing Chinese market,” Mr Albrecht said.

Mr. Zhang Zhizhong, President of Capital Airports Holding Company, said that the new Terminal 3 in Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is the first terminal in China to support Star Alliance’s “Move under One Roof” strategy. As a Star Alliance long-term partner, BCIA will improve terminal management via integrating all the resource in accordance with the Alliance’s development strategy. Chinese carriers joining the Alliance will help BCIA develop the Beijing Capital international airport into a world class hub to better serve the customers.

Mr. Yang Yuanyuan, the Minister of Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that as the supervising body of China aviation industry, CAAC is very pleased  to see that Chinese airlines have learned to plan and analyze their development with a global vision and a strategic mindset. It is well understood that it is very important for airlines to join the alliance in order to develop China aviation industry and to build the air hubs. CAAC has always been supportive to Chinese airlines in their initiatives to join international airline alliances and requested all airport authorities and relevant parties for their full support. We hope that the whole Chinese aviation industry can take this opportunity to accelerate its internationalization to offer simple and seamless service to our customers.

With the addition of Air China and Shanghai Airlines, Star Alliance member airlines cover five continents, 160 countries, 897 destinations, 17,000 daily departures and 740 lounges. With this coverage Star Alliance can offer customers a greater range of choice, more assistance at airports and excellent ground services. In addition customers will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles across all the member airlines. For example, Gold Card holders enjoy more than 700 airport lounges, priority booking and boarding procedures, extra luggage allowances and priority check in.

China’s economy has been developing by 10 percent over 5 successive and is now the world’s fourth largest economy. China’s total transport turnover is second in the world and China is currently the fastest growing airline market in the world.

Air China’s entry into Star Alliance will further enhance the ability of the alliance’s members to cover more destinations in China. In addition Air China’s international network will be considerably expanded to help Air China fulfill its objective of becoming one of the world’s great airlines.

Background Information On Star Alliance
Membership of Star Alliance will offer Air China and Shanghai Airlines customers a number of extra benefits. These include the ability to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles across all of the 19 member airlines, plus three regional carriers. Accumulation of points leads to Gold and Silver Card membership, which entitles customers to a range of benefits These include priority check in, baggage handling and access to lounges. IT systems mean reservations and scheduling amongst Star Alliance airlines is highly co coordinated. The alliance also offers a range of regional air fares and a popular round the world air fare. The Star Alliance website is at www.staralliance.com. It offers value added services such a round the world mileage calculator as well as valuable information about the alliance and its member airlines.