Ethiopian Airlines Joins Star Alliance, SAS Already a Partner
Ethiopian Airlines became the 28th member of Star Alliance on December 13, 2011. SAS was already a partner of the airline prior to the alliance expansion.
Addis Ababa, December 13, 2011 – Ethiopian Airlines officially joined Star Alliance today, becoming the alliance's 28th member airline and strengthening its presence in Africa. SAS, a founding member of the alliance, had already established a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, including code-sharing on routes between Stockholm, Rome, and Addis Ababa, along with full EuroBonus benefits.
The joining ceremony took place at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport. Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, stated that the entry represents "a major step forward in completing our Africa strategy." He highlighted that the expansion offers customers the widest choice of flights to, from, and within Africa, opening up new markets and enhancing services in a rapidly growing region.
Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, described the accession as a "historical milestone" that aligns with the airline's Vision 2025 objectives. With this addition, Star Alliance's network now covers key commercial and political hubs across East, Central, and West Africa, reinforcing its existing hubs in Cairo and Johannesburg.
Globally, the Star Alliance network expands to 28 airlines, offering over 21,000 daily flights to 1,290 destinations in 189 countries. Ethiopian Airlines will also participate in alliance fare products, including Convention Plus and Meetings Plus for business travelers, and the Africa Airpass and Round the World fares for leisure travelers, starting January 1, 2012.