From Air Transport World:

Asiana enters Star as 15th member
Dateline: Wednesday February 19, 2003

Executives of all 14 Star Alliance carriers formally welcomed Asiana Airlines in Seoul on Monday as the grouping's 15th member effective March 1.

Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said Star, with the addition of Asiana, "is taking a major step forward in North Asia and establishes a firm foothold in Korea, one of the world's fastest-growing markets." Asiana serves a network of 18 domestic and 53 international routes with a young fleet of 64 aircraft.
Separately, Asiana agreed to sell an 80% stake in its wholly owned catering division to LSG SkyChefs, a unit of Lufthansa Group, for 65 billion won ($54.1 million). The sale is among restructuring steps Asiana and its parent, Kumho Group, are undertaking to cope with debts and losses accumulated over recent years.

Asiana, which already codeshares with All Nippon and Singapore Airlines, will start codesharing this summer with United Airlines on transpacific routes connecting to major cities in Japan and 20 routes in the US. Asiana President and CEO Park Chan-Bup said codesharing with Air Canada to Vancouver will begin in the second half of the year.

0 Additional ceremonies in Spain in March will welcome Spanair, 74% owned by SAS Group, as Star's 16th member effective April 1. Spanish flag carrier Iberia belongs to oneworld.

[This message has been edited by LH738 (edited 02-19-2003).]