Shanghai’s Juneyao Airlines has become the first airline to operate under a new “Connecting Partner” model that allows smaller regional carriers to sign up with Star Alliance without paying full membership fees.
The deal offers Star Alliance Gold Status passengers benefits such as lounge access, fast track security, additional baggage and priority check-in but not necessarily frequent flyer reciprocity.
But the additional connectivity made available by the deal is only part of the story. It is also the first plank in a new strategy by the 28-member Star Alliance to expand its options by allowing regional, low-cost or hybrid airlines to link into its network without having to become a full member.
Juneyao began operating in 2006 and now flies more than 10 million passengers annually on 62 Airbus A320 family aircraft. It operates from Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports and flies more than 80 domestic routes as well as international services to Hong Kong, Macao, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Thailand, Japan and Korea.
It will connect in Shanghai with Star Alliance members Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana, Austrian, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, SAS, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.
Between them, the Star members operate more than 1,600 weekly services — 811 of them international —from the Chinese city to 64 destinations.
“With Juneyao Airlines as a Connecting Partner we have achieved two important goals,’’ Star chief executive Jeffrey Goh said. “First, as an alliance we can offer regional airlines an attractive way to connect to our global alliance network, without requiring full membership.
“Going forward, this will enable us to strategically enhance our network.
“Second, with Juneyao Airlines we strengthen our market position in Shanghai, a city which is already served by 17 of our member airlines and which will now offer even better connectivity to our customers.’’
Stars says the connecting partners will be carefully selected and be required to high operating standards.
The model also allows the partners to enter bilateral commercial agreements with individual Star members that can include frequent flyer benefits.
In the case of Juneyao Airlines, frequent flyer members of Air Canada, Air China, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines and United will be able to earn and burn miles when travelling on the Chinese airline.
Star is celebrating its 20th birthday with a network that offers more than 18,400 daily flights to 1300 airports in 191 countries.
Its main competitors are the oneworld and SkyTeam alliances.
