Just received this travel daily update.. Can't wait to do a status run from Moscow..
Aegean Airlines to join Star Alliance; S7 to join oneworld
The Star and oneworld airline alliances have this evening made almost simultaneous new prospective membership announcements.
Russian domestic carrier S7 will become the 11th member of oneworld, having been sponsored for membership by British Airways.
The move will add 54 cities to the oneworld map - 35 in Russia as well as destinations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
S7 is the first carrier in Russia to use an all Western-built Airbus and Boeing fleet as well as the first to offer full e-ticketing and online sales and reservations services.
The Star Alliance's newest member is Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, which operates to 17 Greek and 17 international destinations across Europe.
Aegean operates a predominantly Airbus A320/321 fleet on routes of up to four hours travel time from Greece, including London, Manchester, Paris and Berlin as well as major tourist destinations including many Greek islands.
The move will add 9 unique destinations to the Star Alliance network, and Star Alliance ceo Jaan Albrecht said the addition of Aegean would allow member carriers to easily facilitate VFR traffic from large Greek communities in Canada, South Africa, the USA and Australia.
Aegean Airline's accession into the Star Alliance is sponsored by Lufthansa, which already has a close relationship with the Greek carrier.
TD is currently on location in Greece for the Star Alliance announcement - full details in tomorrow's issue.
Aegean Airlines to join Star Alliance; S7 to join oneworld
The Star and oneworld airline alliances have this evening made almost simultaneous new prospective membership announcements.
Russian domestic carrier S7 will become the 11th member of oneworld, having been sponsored for membership by British Airways.
The move will add 54 cities to the oneworld map - 35 in Russia as well as destinations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
S7 is the first carrier in Russia to use an all Western-built Airbus and Boeing fleet as well as the first to offer full e-ticketing and online sales and reservations services.
The Star Alliance's newest member is Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, which operates to 17 Greek and 17 international destinations across Europe.
Aegean operates a predominantly Airbus A320/321 fleet on routes of up to four hours travel time from Greece, including London, Manchester, Paris and Berlin as well as major tourist destinations including many Greek islands.
The move will add 9 unique destinations to the Star Alliance network, and Star Alliance ceo Jaan Albrecht said the addition of Aegean would allow member carriers to easily facilitate VFR traffic from large Greek communities in Canada, South Africa, the USA and Australia.
Aegean Airline's accession into the Star Alliance is sponsored by Lufthansa, which already has a close relationship with the Greek carrier.
TD is currently on location in Greece for the Star Alliance announcement - full details in tomorrow's issue.