Airline alliances are partnerships between or among airlines. Within these collaborations, airlines can share resources, expand partner routes, and even offer the opportunity to earn and redeem miles through each other’s rewards programs. There are three major airline alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld. Each has its own set of partner airlines.
Star Alliance
The Star Alliance is the world’s largest global airline alliance. Founded on May 14, 1997, it is headquartered on the grounds of Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, with a subsidiary management company in Singapore. Today it services 1,200-plus airports and is the largest airline alliance.
Members of the Star Alliance: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Eva Air, Lot Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Tap Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines.
SkyTeam
SkyTeam is one of the world’s three major airline alliances. Founded in June 2000, SkyTeam was the last of the three alliances to be formed, following Star Alliance and Oneworld, respectively. It boasts an annual passenger count of 630 million, making it the second largest of the three major alliances.
The members of SkyTeam are AerolÃneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Xiamen Airlines.
Oneworld
Founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Canadian Airlines, the Oneworld alliance is the smallest major airline alliance but now stands strong with 14 airlines.
Members of Oneworld are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines and Fiji Airways.
Understanding these alliances can be helpful when booking travel, redeeming points, or maximizing your points and miles-earning potential.
