South African Airways (SAA) is one step closer to officially becoming a member of the global airline network, Star Alliance. One of SAA’s Airbus A340-600s has been branded in Star Alliance promotional livery.
The Star Alliance livery, painted across the body of the aircraft, took SAA Technical staff a total of four days to complete. Technicians worked on the aircraft 24-hours a day, eight people per shift.
All Star-Alliance members are required, as part of the minimum joining requirements, to paint at least 3% of their total number of aircraft with the distinct livery, creating brand awareness across the globe.
Only two of SAA’s aircraft — an A340-600 and a Boeing 737-800 — will be branded in the Star Alliance design. The rest of the fleet will remain as it is, in the traditional SAA colours.
The aircraft is now back in service on SAA’s scheduled routes.
On April 10 2006, SAA joins 16 other international airlines belonging to Star Alliance. It is the first airline in Africa to become part of the alliance.
As a member of Star Alliance, SAA will be able to offer its customers 852 destinations in 152 countries and more than 15 500 flights daily.
Star Alliance benefits to customers include that members of Star Alliance airline frequent-flyer programmes can accumulate and redeem miles on all scheduled flights operated by Alliance airlines.
Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, TAP Portugal, THAI, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines.
SAA and SWISS will be integrated during the first half of 2006. — I-Net Bridge