On 7 June 2025, Star Alliance was once again voted the World’s Best Airline Alliance for the fourth consecutive year at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, taking its total tally of the title to 13 times out of 18 when the category was first introduced in 2005. 

The Star Alliance Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport Lounge also retained its title as the World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge – marking a second consecutive win since its inauguration in October 2023.

Marking the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias said in a press release published by Star Alliance member Brussels Airlines: “This continued recognition is incredibly significant to all of us at Star Alliance. It reflects the trust millions of customers place in our member airlines, connected by a rhythm, to create smoother journeys every day.”

Theo Panagiotoulias also congratulated the member airline employees across the network and continued: “This achievement reflects the shared commitment to excellence shown by every employee at Star Alliance and across our member airlines throughout a promising 2024. I proudly accept this honour on their behalf and encourage them to keep aiming higher in the year ahead and beyond.”

The awards were presented at the Paris Air Show, held at the historic Le Bourget Airport. In addition to the two Alliance awards, 14 member airlines were also recognised with a total of 62 top honours in individual categories.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said: “We are pleased to recognise Star Alliance as the World’s Best Airline Alliance, and for having the Best Airline Alliance Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle. These awards speak to the alliance’s continued efforts to create a joined-up experience that appeals to today’s international passenger, both in the air and on the ground.”

Known as the ‘Oscars of the aviation industry‘, the Skytrax World Airline Awards are based on millions of customer surveys from travellers around the world. This year’s results reflect over 22 million eligible entries gathered between September 2024 and May 2025.

Star Alliance

Star Alliance is a global airline alliance headquartered in Frankfurt in Germany. Established on 14 May 1997, it was the world’s first airline alliance of its kind. As of April 2024, the alliance comprises 25 member airlines operating a combined fleet of more than 5,000 aircraft. Its network spans over 1,300 airports in 195 countries, with more than 19,000 daily departures. Star Alliance currently holds the largest market share among global airline alliances at 17.4 percent, ahead of SkyTeam at 13.7 percent and Oneworld at 11.9 percent.

The alliance offers a two-tier rewards system—Silver and Gold—providing benefits such as priority boarding and potential upgrades. Member airlines frequently share airport terminals through co-location strategies, and many aircraft are painted in Star Alliance livery.

1997–1999: Founding and Initial Growth

Star Alliance was founded by five airlines—Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines—representing three continents. The alliance adopted a star-shaped logo symbolising each founding member and launched with the slogan ‘The Airline Network for Earth’. Advertising was managed by Young & Rubicam with a $25 million budget.

VARIG of Brazil joined on 22 October 1997, expanding the alliance’s reach into South America. This was followed by Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand, extending the network into the Pacific region. By 1999, All Nippon Airways had joined, becoming the second Asian airline in the group. At this stage, the alliance served 720 destinations across 110 countries, with a joint fleet of 1,650 aircraft.

2000s: Expansion and Institutional Development

In 2000, several carriers joined, including the Austrian Airlines Group, Singapore Airlines, BMI, and Mexicana. Singapore Airlines’ entry prompted Thai Airways to consider leaving, although it remained. Emirates and BWIA West Indies Airways considered joining but ultimately did not. That year, the alliance also established its Alliance Management Team and opened business centres in Los Angeles, Frankfurt, and Bangkok.

Ansett Australia exited the alliance in 2001 following bankruptcy, leading to Qantas consolidating its domestic dominance in Australia. Jaan Albrecht was appointed as CEO that year. Around this time, the alliance introduced its Round the World ticket offering travel options of up to 23,000 miles with up to 15 stopovers.

In 2003, Asiana Airlines, Spanair, and LOT Polish Airlines joined. Mexicana left the alliance after terminating its codeshare agreement with United Airlines. US Airways joined in May 2004. Later that year, Adria Airways, Blue1, and Croatia Airlines were added as regional members.

TAP Air Portugal joined in March 2005, followed in 2006 by Swiss International Air Lines and South African Airways. By its 10th anniversary in 2007, the alliance offered 16,000 daily departures to 855 destinations in 155 countries, serving 406 million passengers annually. That year also saw the launch of Biosphere Connections, an environmental partnership with UNESCO, IUCN, and the Ramsar Convention.

VARIG left the alliance in January 2007. In December 2007, Air China and Shanghai Airlines joined. Turkish Airlines joined in April 2008, followed by EgyptAir in July. Continental Airlines became the 25th member on 27 October 2009 after leaving SkyTeam. Brussels Airlines joined two months later.

2010s: Consolidation and Continued Expansion

TAM Airlines of Brazil and Aegean Airlines of Greece joined in 2010. Shanghai Airlines exited following its merger with China Eastern Airlines, a SkyTeam member. Ethiopian Airlines was approved in 2010 and officially joined in December 2011, adding new African destinations.

Spanair ceased operations in 2012, and BMI left after being acquired by International Airlines Group. Continental merged with United Airlines, effectively reducing the number of member airlines despite remaining within the alliance.

In June 2012, Avianca, TACA Airlines, and Copa Airlines joined, substantially increasing Star Alliance’s footprint in Latin America. Shenzhen Airlines joined in November, and EVA Air followed in June 2013. Air India was reinvited to begin integration and formally joined in July 2014.

That same year, TAM merged with LAN to form LATAM Airlines Group, leaving the alliance and ending Star Alliance’s presence in Brazil. US Airways also departed following its merger with American Airlines. Air India’s entry brought membership to 27 airlines.

The Connecting Partner model was introduced to expand network reach without requiring full membership. Avianca Brasil joined under this model in July 2015. Mango, South African Airways’ low-cost subsidiary, was announced as a future Connecting Partner, though its entry was postponed. Juneyao Airlines joined as a Connecting Partner in May 2017.

Avianca Brasil exited the alliance in September 2019. Adria Airways ceased operations in the same year, leaving the alliance shortly thereafter.

2020s: Restructuring and Realignment

Thai Smile, a regional subsidiary of Thai Airways, joined as a Connecting Partner in February 2020 but was reintegrated into Thai Airways in January 2024 during the airline’s restructuring.

Asiana Airlines announced in November 2020 that it would exit Star Alliance due to its planned merger with Korean Air, a SkyTeam member. The US Department of Justice approved the merger in December 2024. Asiana will be integrated into Korean Air by early 2027, marking the end of its operations as a separate airline.

In January 2025, Lufthansa Group acquired a 41% stake in ITA Airways, a SkyTeam member. The European Commission approved the acquisition in July 2024. ITA Airways announced its departure from SkyTeam in February 2025 and is expected to join Star Alliance in the first half of 2026.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) left Star Alliance on 31 August 2024 and joined SkyTeam on 1 September 2024. This followed a restructuring of the SAS Group involving investment from Air France–KLM, the Danish Government, and financial firms, which was approved by courts in the United States and Sweden, as well as the European Commission.