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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. |
