Y2K
May 3, 1999 | 11:48 am
#1
Original Poster
In Memoriam, Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 6,879
Y2K
Star Alliance says all systems go for 2000
May 3, 1999
Web posted at: 12:27 p.m. EDT (1627 GMT)
SYDNEY (Reuters) -- The Star Alliance global airline grouping declared its planes free of any Year 2000 dangers on Monday as the heads of nine of the world's airlines met on the second anniversary of the group's creation.
The chief executives also talked up the benefits of the grouping to consumers, as well as the bottom line profits of the participating airlines.
SEE ALSO
CNN Specials:
Countdown to 2000
Looking at the Y2K bug
RELATED STORY
Virgin Atlantic won't fly on New Year's eve
The Star Alliance, whose founder members were Air Canada, Lufthansa AG, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International and United Airlines, was the first airline grouping.
It has since added Ansett Australia, Air New Zealand and Varig Brazilian Airlines as members, while All Nippon Airways is to join in October and Singapore Airlines is expected to join this year.
Star said all information technology used by its airlines had been assessed for its ability to handle dates in the new millennium, and where there was concern critical technology had been replaced, converted or repaired.
This was still happening in some cases, but it was confident all changes would be made in time.
"Up to now, we have not identified any problem which would compromise safety of operation of our aircraft," Lufthansa chairman Juergen Weber told a news conference.
The Star Alliance currently covers 110 countries, and said its network serves more than 200 million passengers a year.
America's United Airlines also revealed its involvement in the Star Alliance had contributed about US$200 million, or roughly 10 percent, to its US$2.3 billion of operating earnings in 1998.
Lufthansa has previously said the alliance contributed some 500 million marks to the airline's 1998 operating profit of 2.845 billion marks, while Air Canada said its membership had led to increased flights to more destinations.
Star also said it has told the government of Thailand it would be prepared to bid for a stake in the national carrier Thai Airways International.
The Thai finance ministry has said it wants to reduce its stake to 70 percent from 93 percent.
Thai Airways chief executive Thamnoon Wanglee said he expected a public offering to be held in December, and a likely further sale to a private or strategic investor in April.
Thamnoon said he would prefer any strategic partner to be a Star Alliance member, adding that it could lead to a conflict of interest if another airline purchased a significant stake.
Other potential suitors indicating interest in Thai Airways have included Australia's Qantas Airways, which is a member of the rival Oneworld marketing alliance, and Swissair.
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
May 3, 1999
Web posted at: 12:27 p.m. EDT (1627 GMT)
SYDNEY (Reuters) -- The Star Alliance global airline grouping declared its planes free of any Year 2000 dangers on Monday as the heads of nine of the world's airlines met on the second anniversary of the group's creation.
The chief executives also talked up the benefits of the grouping to consumers, as well as the bottom line profits of the participating airlines.
SEE ALSO
CNN Specials:
Countdown to 2000
Looking at the Y2K bug
RELATED STORY
Virgin Atlantic won't fly on New Year's eve
The Star Alliance, whose founder members were Air Canada, Lufthansa AG, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International and United Airlines, was the first airline grouping.
It has since added Ansett Australia, Air New Zealand and Varig Brazilian Airlines as members, while All Nippon Airways is to join in October and Singapore Airlines is expected to join this year.
Star said all information technology used by its airlines had been assessed for its ability to handle dates in the new millennium, and where there was concern critical technology had been replaced, converted or repaired.
This was still happening in some cases, but it was confident all changes would be made in time.
"Up to now, we have not identified any problem which would compromise safety of operation of our aircraft," Lufthansa chairman Juergen Weber told a news conference.
The Star Alliance currently covers 110 countries, and said its network serves more than 200 million passengers a year.
America's United Airlines also revealed its involvement in the Star Alliance had contributed about US$200 million, or roughly 10 percent, to its US$2.3 billion of operating earnings in 1998.
Lufthansa has previously said the alliance contributed some 500 million marks to the airline's 1998 operating profit of 2.845 billion marks, while Air Canada said its membership had led to increased flights to more destinations.
Star also said it has told the government of Thailand it would be prepared to bid for a stake in the national carrier Thai Airways International.
The Thai finance ministry has said it wants to reduce its stake to 70 percent from 93 percent.
Thai Airways chief executive Thamnoon Wanglee said he expected a public offering to be held in December, and a likely further sale to a private or strategic investor in April.
Thamnoon said he would prefer any strategic partner to be a Star Alliance member, adding that it could lead to a conflict of interest if another airline purchased a significant stake.
Other potential suitors indicating interest in Thai Airways have included Australia's Qantas Airways, which is a member of the rival Oneworld marketing alliance, and Swissair.
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
