South African Airways scores Star Alliance first

SOUTH African Airways yesterday joined Star Alliance, affording its customers priority connections and other travel benefits across the world.

Frequent users of SAA will now be eligible to redeem and earn frequent-flier points for flights with any of the Alliance’s 17 other international airlines. SAA is the first carrier from Africa to join the global network, which was voted the Best Airline Alliance by the Skytrax passenger-research organisation in 2003 and 2005.Star Alliance members have co-ordinated schedules, making connections easier for customers with a greater variety of flight options.In addition, SAA clients will earn Voyager frequent-flier miles by flying on any of the other 17 airlines.The Alliance includes Air Canada, United from the USA, US Airways, Varig from Brazil, Scandinavian Airlines, BMI from the UK, Lufthansa of Germany, Polish Airlines, Tap Portugal, Spanair from Spain, Swiss Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Thai, Asiana of North Korea, Ana of Japan, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.Combined they offer 15 500 flights a day to 852 destinations in 152 countries.SAA has ended its code-share agreement with Cathay Pacific, its partner to the Far East.Cathay is a member of the rival Oneworld Alliance.Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, said customers travelling on SAA flights would now benefit from all the advantages offered by the alliance.”SAA will bring Africa to the world and Star Alliance will bring the world to Africa,” he said at a colourful launch of the Alliance attended by over 1 500 guests from around the world.SAA clients will have access to more than 660 airport lounges and a wide range of other benefits like cost saving through bulk buying and earning frequent-flier miles when flying with Star Alliance members.SAA CEO Khaya Ngqula said it took 18 months of tough negotiations to reach the agreement.”This is SAA’s time.This is Star Alliance’s time.This is our time.A time to become a truly international airline,” he said.He called on the 11 000 employees of the airline to “raise the level of the game” by improving aspects such as customer service, hospitality and baggage handling.”We are going to leave no stone unturned to improve quality of the service.SAA had been shy in the past to take advantage of its history of successes.Now we have changed,” he said.The Alliance will mean that SAA will have more partners as South Africa prepares to host the 2010 soccer World Cup.In addition, SAA clients wanting to attend the tournament in Germany later this year will also have access to better deals.Wolfgang Mayrhuber, CEO of Lufthansa, said SAA’s decision to join Star Alliance would make markets easier for their clients and goods cheaper in the southern African region.”South Africa is willing to take responsibility and Star Alliance is more than just a collection of brand names,” he said.SAA recently changed to a reservations and inventory system called Amadeus, which will allow it to link its customers to international connecting flights on Star Alliance airlines.SAA is the first carrier from Africa to join the global network, which was voted the Best Airline Alliance by the Skytrax passenger-research organisation in 2003 and 2005.Star Alliance members have co-ordinated schedules, making connections easier for customers with a greater variety of flight options.In addition, SAA clients will earn Voyager frequent-flier miles by flying on any of the other 17 airlines.The Alliance includes Air Canada, United from the USA, US Airways, Varig from Brazil, Scandinavian Airlines, BMI from the UK, Lufthansa of Germany, Polish Airlines, Tap Portugal, Spanair from Spain, Swiss Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Thai, Asiana of North Korea, Ana of Japan, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.Combined they offer 15 500 flights a day to 852 destinations in 152 countries.SAA has ended its code-share agreement with Cathay Pacific, its partner to the Far East.Cathay is a member of the rival Oneworld Alliance.Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, said customers travelling on SAA flights would now benefit from all the advantages offered by the alliance.”SAA will bring Africa to the world and Star Alliance will bring the world to Africa,” he said at a colourful launch of the Alliance attended by over 1 500 guests from around the world.SAA clients will have access to more than 660 airport lounges and a wide range of other benefits like cost saving through bulk buying and earning frequent-flier miles when flying with Star Alliance members.SAA CEO Khaya Ngqula said it took 18 months of tough negotiations to reach the agreement.”This is SAA’s time.This is Star Alliance’s time.This is our time.A time to become a truly international airline,” he said.He called on the 11 000 employees of the airline to “raise the level of the game” by improving aspects such as customer service, hospitality and baggage handling.”We are going to leave no stone unturned to improve quality of the service.SAA had been shy in the past to take advantage of its history of successes.Now we have changed,” he said.The Alliance will mean that SAA will have more partners as South Africa prepares to host the 2010 soccer World Cup.In addition, SAA clients wanting to attend the tournament in Germany later this year will also have access to better deals.Wolfgang Mayrhuber, CEO of Lufthansa, said SAA’s decision to join Star Alliance would make markets easier for their clients and goods cheaper in the southern African region.”South Africa is willing to take responsibility and Star Alliance is more than just a collection of brand names,” he said.SAA recently changed to a reservations and inventory system called Amadeus, which will allow it to link its customers to international connecting flights on Star Alliance airlines.

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