Well, it's 2006, Aeroflot is in (much to the envy of *A) and is doing definitely better than NW, Korean Air still hasn't had a crash and SkyTeam still doesn't have any meaningful access from the US to Australia even though it was voted world's best airline alliance in 2005 by Global Traveler Magazine.

In other news: the only alliance that's had a member airline in liquidation is *A with Varig.

Hmmm, and I don't think the number of people who believe that AirFrance doesn't open up any meaningful destinations or that QF is a premier carrier - besides travel editors in the US Midwest - has grown much since this was published.