Avianca Brasil Joins Star Alliance Network

SÃO PAULO, Brazil, July 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - At a special ceremony held at Guarulhos International Airport today, the Star Alliance member carriers welcomed their newest member, Avianca Brasil.

"Adding Avianca Brasil to our network is an important step in enhancing our customer proposition in Latin America. Brazil is the most important aviation market on the continent and we are pleased that from today onwards, we can once again offer domestic connections in Brazil", said Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance.

Star Alliance partner Air Canada flies daily year-round from its main hub at Toronto Pearson to São Paulo–Guarulhos and three-times weekly to Rio Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airports. Together with Avianca Brasil, Air Canada offers customers convenient connections to cities throughout Brazil including Porto Alegre, Florianopolis, Curitiba, Brasilia, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza as well as reciprocal frequent flyer travel reward benefits and top tier recognition for eligible customers.

"Today we are setting the future pace of our airline and close a two year process which saw us move to a new IT platform, review and update our internal processes and specific  training programme for our employees to ensure they can provide the best possible service to customers. We are proud to be part of the most experienced airline alliance and are pleased to put Brazil back on the Star Alliance map", said Jose Efromovich, President and CEO of Avianca Brasil.

Avianca Brasil is the fastest growing airline in the country. From 2010 to 2014 it increased its market share from 2.6% to 8.4%. Until May of 2015 the airline continued this trend, reaching a cumulative market share of 9%. Further growth is predicted as Avianca Brasil and the other Star Alliance carriers serving the country will connect more passengers through the main Brazilian hubs in São Paulo – Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro – Galeão and Brasilia.

In total 13 member carriers (Air Canada, Air China, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Copa Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP, Turkish Airlines and United) now serve Brazil, which further strengthens Star Alliance's position as the alliance with the most airlines in this market. Avianca Brasil adds 15 new destinations in Brazil to the existing 12 which the Star Alliance member carriers already served, bringing the total to 27.

In addition to Avianca Brasil's domestic network, customers can fly internationally on 88 weekly flights from 12 airports in Brazil to destinations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. By connecting through Star Alliance hubs in these regions, passengers gain access to the worldwide network provided by the 28 member airlines that in total offer more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,330 airports in 192 countries.

More than 2.7 million members of Avianca Brasil's Amigo frequent flyer programme (FFP) can now make use of the full Star Alliance FFP benefits. Not only can they, for example, earn and redeem miles on all member airline flights, those with Amigo Gold and Diamond status can access more than 1,000 lounges across the globe, make use of extra baggage allowance, priority baggage delivery, separate check-in counters and priority boarding.

By the same token, members of the other Star Alliance FFPs will be granted the same benefits when travelling on Avianca Brasil.

The company's flights, all operating under the "O6" IATA carrier code designator, will now be part of the Star Alliance fare products. The most popular one is the Round the World fare which allows customers to travel around the globe using any combination of the 28 member carriers. Furthermore Avianca Brasil will now also participate in the business oriented fare products, such as Star Alliance Corporate Plus.

In order to support the joining of Avianca Brasil, Star Alliance has launched a special marketing campaign, built around the slogan "THE WAY BRAZIL CONNECTS WITH THE WORLD". It uses a visual metaphor of the Brazilian flag being formed out of 3D iconic buildings from across the globe, visualising the benefit that, through the inclusion of Avianca Brasil into the Alliance, the international Brazilian frequent traveller has a wider choice of travel than on any other alliance.

Photos from the event will be available at: http://www.xturnover.dk/staralliance/aviancainbrazilevent/

About Avianca Brasil (IATA Code: O6):
Avianca Brasil is the country's fastest growing airline, serving 23 domestic and one international destination, with over 200 daily flights. The airline is renowned for delivering high-quality service and comfort at competitive prices. In recognition of this it has received numerous industry awards including the highest grade for seat pitch in all of its fleet, by ANAC the local civil aviation authority.
Now as a member of Star Alliance, More than 2.7 million Amigo Frequent Flyer members can experience the scale of benefits offered by the alliance in particularly earn & redeeming points alliance-wide.
Avianca (AV) & Avianca Brasil (O6) operate under one Brand.

About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,330 airports in 192 countries.

SOURCE STAR ALLIANCE

Further information can be obtained via: Star Alliance Press Office, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected], www.staralliance.com, Twitter @staralliance https://twitter.com/staralliance, Facebook: www.facebook.com/staralliance, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/star-alliance, Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/staralliancenetwork, Instagram: https://instagram.com/staralliance/; Avianca Press Office, Tel: [phone], Email : [email protected], www.avianca.com.br, Twitter : @AviancaBrasil, Facebook : www.facebook.com/AviancaBrasil, YouTube: /AviancaBr, Linkedin: /avianca-brasil