VANCOUVER, Canada – Air Canada welcomed in Vancouver today the chief executives of more than 20 Star Alliance member airlines.
The annual Star Alliance strategy meeting of CEOs marks the fifteenth anniversary of the world’s first and most comprehensive airline alliance that was founded in 1997 by Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, THAI and United Airlines and has since grown to encompass 25 of the world’s leading airlines worldwide.
“We are pleased to host the chief executives of our Star Alliance partners in Vancouver for this annual forum to discuss the strategy for Star Alliance going forward,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “Over the past fifteen years, Star Alliance has consistently distinguished itself as the world’s premiere airline group. Star Alliance was founded on the principle of offering customers the reach of a global network beyond what any single carrier is able to do on its own, and rewarding our respective customers’ loyalty by providing reciprocal privileges across the world’s leading airlines. Working together to meet our customers’ international travel needs has become our hallmark, one that we continue to build as we look for ways to simplify our customers’ travel experience and earn their loyalty.”
“On behalf of the Star Alliance CEOs I would like to thank Air Canada for hosting our annual Chief Executive Board Strategy Forum during their 75th Anniversary year,” said Mark Schwab, Chief Executive Officer of Star Alliance. “While modern technology has greatly improved global communications in the business world, the feedback we receive from our customers confirms our own belief that face-to-face meetings will never be replaced by ‘virtual’ ones. These regular meetings of our top executives ensure that our strategy continues to meet the changing needs of our customers, even as Star Alliance itself celebrates its 15th Anniversary year.”
Examples of Star Alliance benefits for customers include check-in to final destination, faster and smoother airport transfers, reciprocal frequent flyer program mileage redemption and accrual that counts towards top tier status, Star Alliance Gold and Silver benefits including worldwide lounge access and Alliance-wide fare products such as the popular Round the World Fare and regional Airpasses.
