Star Alliance welcomes LOT Polish Airlines

Star Alliance, one of the world's leading airline networks, has welcomed LOT Polish Airlines as its 15th member, further extending its worldwide network, particularly into Eastern Europe.

LOT Polish Airlines' network covers 46 cities in Europe and beyond, in addition to 12 destinations in Poland. In 2002 the airline carried 3.3 million passengers, a five per cent increase on the previous year. It was also recently voted the best airline in Eastern Europe.

Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said the addition of LOT Polish Airlines is concrete evidence of Star Alliance's leadership position.

"We see today as a significant step forward in achieving one of our most important objectives: to offer passengers the most comprehensive network possible, coupled with supporting products and services, particularly smooth connections to every major city in the world," Mr Albrecht said.

LOT Polish Airlines CEO Marek Grabarek said membership in the Star Alliance network would enhance the airline's ability to build its market share in Eastern Europe and beyond by working closely with fellow Star Alliance carriers such as Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Austrian, with which it already has extensive code sharing arrangements.

"We realise that to compete vigorously in today's aviation environment, airlines need to work closely with other carriers within an alliance. Star Alliance offers not only the best network, but excellent synergies with other carriers within the alliance that LOT can leverage off to grow the business," Mr Grabarek said.

The Star Alliance network spans 680 airports in 127 countries. Its fleet of over 2000 aircraft makes almost 11,000 daily departures. This year Star Alliance airlines are expected to carry well over 300 million passengers.

Star Alliance members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Mexicana Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. US Airways is scheduled to join the alliance in 2004.