When it comes to air connectivity, Star Alliance’s Tim Clyde-Smith says the airline network is second to none especially in the Australian market.
Speaking to KarryOn, the Country Steering Committee Chair said the alliance has undergone “major development” in the local market over the last year, which has expanded its reach from across Australia to the rest of the world.
Among the biggest changes to the Star Alliance last year was the addition of an extra online member when All Nippon Airways resumed its Tokyo–Sydney service. This brings the alliance up to 11 online members and 12 offline – that’s 23 of the group’s 28 members represented in the country.
The alliance also welcomed a new route when Air New Zealand launched its Buenos Aires service.
Over the next six months the Star Alliance network will grow even further when Air Canada launches its Vancouver flights out of Brisbane; and Singapore Airlines starts its Canberra service, the first international flights out of the destination.
According to Clyde-Smith these developments open Australia’s international travellers to new key regional hubs (such as Japan) and gives them even more access to the alliance’s 1,300 destinations in 92 countries.
“We were operating out of nine ports across Australia with 11 members and thanks to Singapore Airlines’ flights from Canberra we’ll be operating out of 10 ports.”
Tim Clyde-Smith, Star Alliance Country Steering Committee Chair
“That’s a significant development for us and it means more of Australia’s international travellers have access to the Star Alliance network.”
In order to promote the new developments in Australia amongst local trade, Clyde-Smith revealed the alliance is working with select travel groups to build a highly customised online training tool.
The program will focus on educating trade on itineraries from Australia, round the world, regional products and features of the Star Alliance.
“So more than ever before we’re giving Australian trade the tools so that Star Alliance can be elevated from and mind and through them promote and sell us.”
Tim Clyde-Smith, Star Alliance Country Steering Committee Chair
Meanwhile, the alliance will sponsor an award at the National Tourism Industry Awards (NTIA) for the second year running.
