Amadeus and Star Alliance unite to make touchless travel more accessible

Partnership will give travelers access at multiple airports for biometric identity verification needs

Implementation of a digital identity in travel needs to work end-to-end for travelers to realize its benefits - not just at one airport or on a specific airline, but across every stage of their journey.

While the travel industry has been working on implementing biometrics for some years, multiple disparate initiatives from several providers mean that travelers are required to fill in their identification details on multiple occasions.

At a time when it is crucial to reduce new travel frictions caused by responses to COVID-19, and to increase traveler confidence, Amadeus and Star Alliance are announcing a milestone partnership that will allow travelers enrolled in Star Alliance Biometrics or in Amadeus Traveler ID the benefit of accessing a growing number of airports where identity verification can be utilized during their journey.

Star Alliance named as the World's Leading Airline Alliance - Plus 12 member airlines scoop 20 awards.

Star Alliance has been named the World’s Leading Airline Alliance in this year’s World Travel Awards.  

The annual awards cover multiple categories and are awarded based on a  worldwide poll of qualified executives working within travel and tourism, and the consumer travel buyer. The awards serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. 

Earlier, the Star Alliance’s branded airport lounge at Los Angeles  International Airport (LAX) was recognized as the best in North America by the World Travel Awards. The lounge at LAX is one of eight such lounges globally.  

Star Alliance Travel Information Hub expanded

Star Alliance Travel Information Hub offers greatly expanded utility

Building upon the successful launch of its Travel Information Hub at the end of June, Star Alliance, the

world’s largest global airline alliance, has unveiled a series of useful upgrades to now help passengers plan multi-stop itineraries.

Star Alliance Travel Information Hub

This unique alliance service was created by Star Alliance and its member airlines to help customers navigate the ever-changing international travel landscape that has resulted from measures taken by governments, regulators, and other stakeholders to help contain the spread of COVID-19.#

The tool provides specific health and hygiene measures presented across all elements of the customer journey.

SkyTeam, oneworld and Star Alliance join forces to give customers confidence in travel

The three global airline alliances, SkyTeam - of which Delta is a founding member - oneworld and Star Alliance have combined forces to highlight how airlines are working to ensure customers’ wellbeing while travelling.  

Dear Travellers is a video created to give an insight into the many measures customers can expect to see over the coming months, as travel restrictions are slowly eased and the world starts to reopen. 

Together, the three alliances represent more than 50 percent of the world’s air traffic. Each has announced a multi-layered approach to safer operations with initiatives that meet or exceed the stringent measures recommended by health experts, regulators and leading industry bodies.  

The alliances are recommending a number of safety measures that Delta already has in place, such as wearing face coverings and using HEPA filters, but we have also implemented initiatives above and beyond these including capping capacity and blocking middle seats onboard our flights. 

Kristin Colvile, SkyTeam’s CEO, said: “The safety and well-being of passengers and employees have always been our members’ number one priority. We have seen an incredible level of cooperation within the entire aviation community to implement multiple layers of protection around health and hygiene. Passengers can be assured that when they travel many actions have been taken to enhance their personal safety in the airport and the air.” 

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oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance member airlines call on governments and stakeholders for extraordinary support

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance member airlines call on governments and stakeholders for extraordinary support

On behalf of their member airlines, the three global airline alliances oneworld®, SkyTeam and Star Alliance are jointly calling on governments and stakeholders to take action to alleviate the unprecedented challenges faced by the global airline industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three global alliances, which represent almost 60 airlines around the world that contribute more than half of global airline capacity, are strongly supporting a request by the International Air Transport Association for regulators to suspend slot usage rules for the northern summer 2020 season as the airline industry suffers from extraordinary reductions in passenger demand.

The alliances welcome the moves in recent days by some regulators who have suspended slot regulations temporarily and urge others to follow suit promptly. They also request that regulators consider extending the suspensions for the entire operating season.

Star Alliance to show a new Smile

Photo Star Alliance / Thai Smile

Star Alliance announced the plans for THAI Smile Airways to become the next Connecting Partner in its global network.

The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, meeting on the sides of the 75th IATA Annual General Meeting in Seoul,  approved the application of THAI Smile Airways to become a part the Alliance’s Connecting Partner model.

The Connecting Partner model was established by Star Alliance in June 2016 to complement its membership model. 

In contrast to full membership in the Alliance, requiring building of commercial ties with all full members, the more regional Connecting Partner scope calls for commercial relationships with a minimum of three carriers only.