United/Spanair Alliance
 

What is this? A sub-alliance of some sort? Not exactly like the Delta/United deal either.

September 23, 1999

UNITED AIRLINES PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, September 23, 1999 -- United Airlines today
announced that it intends to launch a bilateral alliance with
Spanair, one of Spain's fastest growing airlines. The agreement,
United's first with a Spanish carrier, will provide United
customers with convenient connections to four cities in Spain,
allow customers to accrue and redeem miles on Spanair flights
and provide convenient one-stop check-in service.
Bruce Harris, United Airlines' Director of Alliances commented:
"We are delighted that Spanair has chosen United as their U.S.
partner. By connecting our comprehensive Washington-Dulles
network with Spanair's 'capital to capital' Washington to Madrid
service, customers of both airlines will have dozens of new
connection opportunities." Harris also noted the new service to
Spain made possible by the alliance saying, "This agreement will
allow us to offer our customers service to Barcelona, Malaga and
Palma de Mallorca for the first time, further expanding the reach
of our global network."
With government approval, the new service will become
available for sale on October 30, 1999, with operations
beginning October 31, 1999. United's two letter carrier code,
"UA" will be placed on Spanair flights from Washington to
Madrid, and from Madrid to Barcelona,

Malaga and Palma de Mallorca.
The United-Spanair alliance also will provide customers with
hassle-free service by eliminating the need to check-in multiple
times on flights involving both airlines. Beginning October 31,
1999, United customers will have the convenience of one-stop
check-in service.
United customers originating in cities throughout North America
will be able to connect to Spanair's 'capital to capital' nonstop
service from Washington-Dulles to Madrid. From
Washington-Dulles, United and United Express currently offer
381 daily departures to 76 cities throughout the world. United
also offers hourly service to Boston, and near hourly service New
York-LaGuardia and Los Angeles.
Known for its exceptional service, Spanair operates the only
nonstop service between Washington Dulles and Madrid with
five weekly departures, operated with Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spanair serves 24
airports - 14 in Spain and 10 international locations including
Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Havana, Lisbon, London,
Malabo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Washington Dulles.
Owned 49 percent by SAS - Scandinavian Airlines System and
51 percent by the Spanish travel agency Viajes Marsans,
Spanair earned its wings flying charters since 1988 and
scheduled passenger flights since 1994.
As the largest air carrier in the world and the largest majority
employee-owned company, United Airlines offers more than
2,400 flights a day to 134 destinations in 27 countries and one
U.S. territory. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, a
global network of airlines including Air Canada, Air New
Zealand, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways
International and Varig. All Nippon Airways of Japan will join Star

Alliance in October of 1999, and Mexicana will join in the
summer of 2000. On Tuesday, September 21, Austrian Airlines
Aviation Group announced their intention to join Star Alliance in
2000. United is an industry technology innovator with
breakthroughs such as E-Ticket Service, United Connection,
Airport Gate Readers, Mobile Airport Chariots, United Shuttle,
and the introduction of the technologically advanced Boeing 777.
United Airlines' Internet address is www.ual.com.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 09-23-1999).]