Over the subsequent two years, Asiana Airways will merge with korean air. This can be a vital consolidation that can see South Korea’s second and largest airways be part of forces to change into one provider – Korean Air.

After all, the long-time “enemy” of Asiana Airways is a member of Star Alliance, whereas Korean Air is a member of SkyTeam.

Since Korean Air would be the solely airline ensuing from the merger, Star Alliance can be an airline. It is going to be an enormous win for SkyTeam with the one mega-size Korean Air, however a loss for Star Alliance.

As a Star Alliance flyer myself, I began desirous about who we’d see changing Asiana. The alliance is already very current in Asia with Air China, ANA and Singapore Airways.

Nevertheless, if the alliance have been so as to add a brand new provider to exchange Asiana, listed here are a couple of that I wish to see thought-about.

A little bit of context

With the exit of Asiana, 25 airways will stay within the Star Alliance. That is nonetheless practically double the variety of competing airways Oneworld and SkyTeam.

So whereas there isn’t any assure {that a} substitute airline will be part of Star Alliance, we will talk about a number of the airways that aren’t but a part of a serious alliance and what their Star Alliance membership Alliance would imply for travellers.

Hawaiian airways

Whereas a few of its continental United States; Auckland, New Zealand; and Tokyo routes would instantly compete with current Star Alliance members United Airways, ANA and Air New Zealandif Hawaiian airways joined Star Alliance, the alliance would have a lot better visibility within the Asia-Pacific area.

Extra, United and Hawaiian have already got a partnership permitting MileagePlus members to to win and redeem miles on Hawaiian Airways inter-island flights.

Along with inter-island service to Hawaii, Star Alliance members would get pleasure from extra flights to locations like Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Japan and South Korea via Hawaii’s conveniently positioned hub at Honolulu’s Daniel Okay. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL).

It’s possible that Pualani Gold members from Hawaii would obtain the advantages of Star Alliance Silver, whereas Pualani Platinum members would obtain the advantages of Star Alliance Gold.

This could imply that Pualani Platinum members might entry different Star Alliance lounges when touring overseas. HNL already has two Star Alliance lounges: the United Membership and the ANA lounge.

Star Alliance Gold members would additionally get pleasure from advantages similar to precedence boarding, further baggage allowances, elevated incomes/redemption alternatives, and entry to Hawaii’s 5 Premier Golf equipment positioned within the Hawaiian Islands.

Associated: Mai tai-ing on: Hawaiian Airways (A321neo) top notch from Portland to Maui

Virgin Australia

Though it misplaced its long-haul locations and Boeing 777-300ER fleet through the pandemic, Virgin AustraliaStar Alliance becoming a member of Star Alliance would disrupt Qantas union Down Underneath.

In any case, Virgin Atlantic has Brisbane Airport (BNE), Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Perth Airport (PER) as hubs, and as soon as it’s going to have obtained its new Boeing 737-8 and -10 MAX, new locations can be inside attain.

The introduced vary of three,550 nautical miles of the Boeing 737-8 MAX (anticipated supply in February 2023) will open new locations in Southeast Asia in addition to locations similar to Mauritius and Chenai, India, of Perth. With a refueling cease in FijiSomoa or French Polynesia, Virgin Australia might attain Honolulu from its jap Australian hubs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Though Virgin Australia isn’t a Star Alliance member, the airline already has partnerships with Star Alliance carriers similar to Air Canada, United, Singapore Airways and South African Airways.

At present, Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members have entry to United Golf equipment, Singapore Airways SilverKris Lounges and South African Airways lounges, all of that are Star Alliance Gold lounges.

As well as, Virgin Australia and United lately fashioned a partnership which permits codeshare flights with connections on a single reserving. Extra United Advantages for Virgin Australia, flyers are coming quickly.

If Virgin Australia joined Star Alliance, Star Alliance vacationers would see new home providers throughout Australia – an space at the moment underserved by the alliance.

Associated: The very best methods to make use of factors and miles to journey from the USA to Australia

Etihad

Whereas the 2 Turkish Airways and Egypt Air have intensive networks throughout Center Eastby becoming a member of Star Alliance, primarily based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Etihad would open the Star Alliance community to the airline’s 67 international locations.

Based mostly in Doha qatarairwaysa competitor of Etihad, is already a member of Oneworld, and Oneworld prospects can e-book the Q-suite utilizing miles. For those who handle to search out an award seat, you may e-book a flight from the USA to Doha Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH) for under 70,000 AAdvantage miles.

Oh, how I wish to see the identical of MileagePlus on the brand new Etihad enterprise class!

Etihad already has partnerships with six Star Alliance carriers, and utilizing Air Canada’s Aeroplan, you may e-book Etihad flights at considerably affordable grant charges.

If Etihad joined Star Alliance, American vacationers en path to the Center East, Africa and South Asia would have many extra choices.

Associated: Etihad Visitor miles proceed to fly beneath the radar

Emirates

A stone’s throw from Abu Dhabi is the Dubai-based airline Emirates.

The airline lately fashioned partnerships with United and Air Canada. Though these partnerships solely got here with interline chords for now, reciprocal mileage alternatives will possible be introduced within the coming months. In my opinion, an Emirates Star Alliance membership would simplify these partnerships, making it simpler for patrons to know their advantages primarily based on their tier standing.

Emirates operates an enormous fleet of 250 wide-body plane to over 150 worldwide locations. I’d be very excited so as to add its greater than 30 enterprise class lounges to the Star Alliance Gold lounge portfolio.

In the USA alone, Emirates has lounges at Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS), Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO).

Regardless of that growing older enterprise class cabin, including Emirates to Star Alliance could be a game-changer. And it might additionally push Turkish Airways to modernize its out of date 2-3-2 Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class cabin with a more moderen cabin to remain aggressive.

And as with Etihad, Star Alliance vacationers would profit from intensive connecting flight routes linking East and West.

Associated: Going for the gold: assessment of Emirates’ new premium economic system cabin on the Airbus A380

Icelandair

Recently, Icelandair can be a wise candidate for Star Alliance.

As Iceland a full-service provider, it operates Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 plane throughout the northern United States, Canada and Western Europe – together with lesser-known point-to-point routes like Raleigh Worldwide Airport -Durham (RDU), Minneapolis- St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP) and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Worldwide Airport (BWI) to Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF).

Icelandair additionally has an in depth community all through Europe that permits for handy one-stop routes between the USA and Europe. Moreover, flight occasions from Iceland to the USA are considerably shorter than these to mainland Europe. So stopping in Iceland could be a welcome break.

Reykjavik is already effectively served by the Star Alliance community, together with flights on Air Canada, Austrian Airways, Lufthansa, SAS and United. However the Icelandair stopover The rule would enchantment to Star Alliance passengers on flights between the USA and Europe. Icelandair additionally at the moment has a partnership with SAS.

In sum, Icelandair could be a chief candidate for Star Alliance and open many handy one-stop routes throughout Iceland.

Associated: How you can get to Iceland with factors and miles

On the finish of the road

Though Asiana will depart Star Alliance, there are not any public plans so as to add one other airline to the alliance. But, around the globe, there are a number of prime candidates for Star Alliance.

Though it’s unlikely that Etihad or Emirates may be satisfied that becoming a member of Star Alliance could be of their curiosity, all listed carriers have already got not less than one partnership with a Star Alliance provider.

So who is aware of? Maybe Asiana’s exit from Star Alliance will push alliance airline headhunters a bit extra to search out some new power within the alliance sport.