Announcement of the membership at Cairo International Airport marks the end of a nine-month integration project along which the company adapted its booking systems, ticket issue, frequent flyer program and other customer-orientated programs, with a view to working in close conjunction with the infrastructure of other alliance member companies.

“Star Alliance was chosen by Egyptair above all because it is the largest, strongest and most dynamic of the alliances, focusing in providing passengers with a high level of services and at the same time minimizing costs – a concept which Egyptair totally identifies with”, declared Commander Tawfil Assy, CEO of Egyptair Holding Company. “The strategic location of Egyptair in the region will enable Cairo Airport to become an important hub for the Star Alliance family and a doorway to the Middle-East and North Africa”, the CEO stated.  

“With Egyptair alliance membership we will become the largest alliance serving Africa with half of our member companies flying to the African continent,” said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO. “The economic and business climate in Africa is attracting world attention. Star Alliance is well positioned to serve business traffic on the continent counting on Egyptair in the north, South African Airways in the south and another nine companies that operate in Africa.”

As a fundamental part of reinforcing its role as a hub, Cairo Airport is concluding work on a new terminal. When it opens next Fall, Terminal 3 will comprise a Star Alliance dedicated structure with a capacity to attend to 11 million passengers a year and serve seven alliance members companies.

About Star Alliance

The Star Alliance network was founded 1997 as the first truly global airline company alliance offering customers a worldwide scale and consistent travel experience to all its destinations. Star Alliance was awarded the Market Leadership price in 2008 by Air Transport World and was elected the best airline company alliance by Business Traveller magazine in 2003, 2006 and 2007 and also by Skytrax in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Star Alliance members include:  Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Egyptair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, Swiss, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional airlines Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue 1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines (Croatia) which are also part contribute to improving its global network. Air India and Continental Airlines were both accepted as future alliance members. Altogether, the Star Alliance network offers more than 18,100 daily flights to 975 destinations in 162 countries.

About Egyptair:

Egyptair is the national airline of Egypt  based around the cosmopolitan city of Cairo. Throughout its 76 year history, Egyptair has witnessed extraordinary growth, occupying a leadership position and becoming the foremost airline transport company in the Middle East and Africa and the seventh worldwide to adhere to IATA, a sign of its prestige.

Throughout its 76-year service history and as a result of continual investment, Egyptair has expanded its network with remarkable success, serving more than 1624 departures a week to 69 cities in 44 countries. It has transported more than 6.8 million passengers in 10 months between July 2007 and April 2008 which reflects an increase of 20 percent compared with the same period the previous year. Today Egyptair has one of the most modern fleets and an average age of 8 years, comprising 50 aircraft and the goal of reaching 75 aircraft in 2013.

In 2004, Egyptair demonstrated its level of commitment to the highest levels of flight safety by becoming the first airline company in Africa and the Middle East to carry IOSA certification.