It is for sure now: AUA leaves Qualiflyer and joins StarAlliance
Sep 21, 1999, 6:10 am
#1
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It is for sure now: AUA leaves Qualiflyer and joins StarAlliance
Details to follow. AUA just finished their press-conference and SR had officially acknoledged (at their own press-conference at the Oerlikon-Swissotel-Hotel this morning - I was there) that AUA will leave the Qualiflyer-Group.
Sep 21, 1999, 6:15 am
#2
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Zürich, 21. Sep (Reuters) - Der Austrittder österreichischen Fluggesellschaft AUA aus der von der Schweizer Swissair geführten Flugallianz Qualiflyer ist nach Swissair-Angaben bedauerlich aber finanziell
verkraftbar. Die Trennung sei ein emotionaler Verlust, mit diesen Worten wurde Philippe Bruggisser, der Chef der Swissair - Dachgesellschaft SAirGroup, am Dienstag in einer Pressemitteilung zitiert. Die beiden Airlines hätten schliesslich 44 Jahre lang zusammengearbeitet. "Die kommerziellen Folgen halten sich in Grenzen und sind für die Qualiflyer Group zu verkraften," erklärte Bruggisser.
Die Swissair will die Qualiflyer-Gruppe als europäische Flug-Allianz weiter ausbauen. Verhandlungen über eine Erweiterung der Qualiflyer Group in Osteuropa seien im Gang. Im Laufe der nächsten zwölf Monate gelte es, den Wegfall der 15 Destinationen zu kompensiere, die AUA und ihre österreichischen Partner vor allem in Osteuropa anfliegen. Auch müsse die gegenseitige Verflechtung der Organisationen aufgelöst werden.
Die AUA will sich nach eigenen Angaben der Star Alliance von Lufthansa AG und United Airlines anschliessen.
Partner der Qualiflyer Group sind der Mitteilung zufolge nun Swissair, Sabena, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, AOM French Airlines, Crossair, Air Littoral und Air Europe. Sie bedienen mit 388 Flugzeugen 331 Destinationen.
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
verkraftbar. Die Trennung sei ein emotionaler Verlust, mit diesen Worten wurde Philippe Bruggisser, der Chef der Swissair - Dachgesellschaft SAirGroup, am Dienstag in einer Pressemitteilung zitiert. Die beiden Airlines hätten schliesslich 44 Jahre lang zusammengearbeitet. "Die kommerziellen Folgen halten sich in Grenzen und sind für die Qualiflyer Group zu verkraften," erklärte Bruggisser.
Die Swissair will die Qualiflyer-Gruppe als europäische Flug-Allianz weiter ausbauen. Verhandlungen über eine Erweiterung der Qualiflyer Group in Osteuropa seien im Gang. Im Laufe der nächsten zwölf Monate gelte es, den Wegfall der 15 Destinationen zu kompensiere, die AUA und ihre österreichischen Partner vor allem in Osteuropa anfliegen. Auch müsse die gegenseitige Verflechtung der Organisationen aufgelöst werden.
Die AUA will sich nach eigenen Angaben der Star Alliance von Lufthansa AG und United Airlines anschliessen.
Partner der Qualiflyer Group sind der Mitteilung zufolge nun Swissair, Sabena, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, AOM French Airlines, Crossair, Air Littoral und Air Europe. Sie bedienen mit 388 Flugzeugen 331 Destinationen.
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
Sep 21, 1999, 6:41 am
#3
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And just for fun I ran it through a translator 
:
Zurich, 21st Sep (Reuters) - the Austrittder of Austrian airline AUA out of the flight alliance led by the Swiss Swissair Qualiflyer is after Swissair-statements deplorably however financial verkraftbar. The separation would be became an emotional loss, with these words Philippe Bruggisser that boss of the Swissair will quote - roof company SAirGroup, on Tuesday in a press communication. Both Airlines would have for finally 44 year collaborated. "The commercial sequences hold themselves in boundary and are for the Qualiflyer Group to verkraften," explained Bruggisser. The Qualiflyer-group wants to complete the Swissair as a European flight-alliance further. Let negotiations for an expansion of the Qualiflyer Group in Eastern Europe be in the gear. In the course of the next twelve months, it, the omission of the 15 Destinationen would count would compensate to, that AUA approach and its Austrian partners above all in Eastern Europe. Also the mutual interlocking of the organizations would have to be dissolved. The AUA wants to join after characteristic statements of the starling Alliance of Lufthansa CORP. and United Airlines. Partners of the Qualiflyer Group are according to the communication now Swissair, Sabena, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, AOM French Airlines, Crossair, Air Littoral and Air Europe. They serve with 388 airplanes 331 Destinationen.
:Zurich, 21st Sep (Reuters) - the Austrittder of Austrian airline AUA out of the flight alliance led by the Swiss Swissair Qualiflyer is after Swissair-statements deplorably however financial verkraftbar. The separation would be became an emotional loss, with these words Philippe Bruggisser that boss of the Swissair will quote - roof company SAirGroup, on Tuesday in a press communication. Both Airlines would have for finally 44 year collaborated. "The commercial sequences hold themselves in boundary and are for the Qualiflyer Group to verkraften," explained Bruggisser. The Qualiflyer-group wants to complete the Swissair as a European flight-alliance further. Let negotiations for an expansion of the Qualiflyer Group in Eastern Europe be in the gear. In the course of the next twelve months, it, the omission of the 15 Destinationen would count would compensate to, that AUA approach and its Austrian partners above all in Eastern Europe. Also the mutual interlocking of the organizations would have to be dissolved. The AUA wants to join after characteristic statements of the starling Alliance of Lufthansa CORP. and United Airlines. Partners of the Qualiflyer Group are according to the communication now Swissair, Sabena, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, AOM French Airlines, Crossair, Air Littoral and Air Europe. They serve with 388 airplanes 331 Destinationen.
Sep 21, 1999, 7:03 am
#6
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Press-news from Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways – Become a Member in the first truly global Aviation Alliance The Star Alliance Network
With the approval of the supervisory board of the Austrian Airlines AG in its meeting on September 21, 1999, the future alliance policy of Austrian Airlines for the beginning of the new millennium was determined. Austrian Airlines and thereby also Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways, will join Star Alliance as of the 2000 summer timetable.
The global Star Alliance Network presently comprises eight well-known airlines - Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, United Airlines and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. In October 1999, Japanese All Nippon Airways and in 2000, Austrian Airlines and Mexicana Airlines will join Star Alliance. Based on the contract of Austrian Airlines – Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways will also be members of the global network of airlines. Then, the eleven distinguished partners of Star Alliance, with a total fleet of almost 2000 aircraft, will serve around 800 destinations in more than 112 countries worldwide and transport more than a quarter of a billion passengers annually.
At the end of June 1999, Delta Air Lines and Air France announced that they were establishing a new - presently the fifth - worldwide aviation alliance. Management took this as a reason to subject the alliance and cooperation policies of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group to a profound analysis and a new definition.
The detailed evaluation of all alliance options yielded a clear preference for membership in the Star Alliance. For this decision, the greatest long term benefit for the customer on a global basis, future expansion opportunities within an established world spanning alliance, positive effects on long-term profitability, further expansion of the Vienna hub, general strengthening of the competitive position and value of the company as well as maintaining independence were the determining factors.
A joint statement by both Austrian Airlines presidents, Dr. Herbert Bammer and Mario Rehulka: "We made today a very important decision for the future and further development of Austrian aviation. This decision will enable us to extend our route network worldwide for the benefit of our customers - from the South Seas to South America!"
Starting with the 2000 summer timetable, Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways will be partners in the powerful Miles & More program. From then, miles can be accrued and redeemed on all routes of the respected Star Alliance partners as well as other airlines joining this program.
All customers of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group - Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air, and Tyrolean Airways - can join in benefiting from a clearly expanded product.
Bonus miles accumulated in the Qualiflyer frequent flyer program remain valid and naturally will be honored to the same extent as previously by members of the Qualflyer Group as well as other airlines joining this program.
Current contracts and agreements with agents and corporate customers in Austria, will remain in existence in accordance with their term until the end of 1999. This important group of customers will be offered, through the worldwide presence and first-class quality of the Star Alliance partners, even more interesting business opportunities. After all, the customers of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group will soon have 275,000 highly motivated "star employees" at their service.
Austrian Airlines is included in the Star Alliance Network as a valued partner. The customer-friendly implementation of the alliance switch is beginning already today. Austrian Airlines will announce new offers as well as changes that have been carried out.
"With this redefinition of our alliance strategy we can meet the interests of our customers as well as of our shareholders in the best possible way!" was the concluding statement of the presidents of Austrian Airlines.
Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways – Become a Member in the first truly global Aviation Alliance The Star Alliance Network
With the approval of the supervisory board of the Austrian Airlines AG in its meeting on September 21, 1999, the future alliance policy of Austrian Airlines for the beginning of the new millennium was determined. Austrian Airlines and thereby also Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways, will join Star Alliance as of the 2000 summer timetable.
The global Star Alliance Network presently comprises eight well-known airlines - Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, United Airlines and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. In October 1999, Japanese All Nippon Airways and in 2000, Austrian Airlines and Mexicana Airlines will join Star Alliance. Based on the contract of Austrian Airlines – Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways will also be members of the global network of airlines. Then, the eleven distinguished partners of Star Alliance, with a total fleet of almost 2000 aircraft, will serve around 800 destinations in more than 112 countries worldwide and transport more than a quarter of a billion passengers annually.
At the end of June 1999, Delta Air Lines and Air France announced that they were establishing a new - presently the fifth - worldwide aviation alliance. Management took this as a reason to subject the alliance and cooperation policies of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group to a profound analysis and a new definition.
The detailed evaluation of all alliance options yielded a clear preference for membership in the Star Alliance. For this decision, the greatest long term benefit for the customer on a global basis, future expansion opportunities within an established world spanning alliance, positive effects on long-term profitability, further expansion of the Vienna hub, general strengthening of the competitive position and value of the company as well as maintaining independence were the determining factors.
A joint statement by both Austrian Airlines presidents, Dr. Herbert Bammer and Mario Rehulka: "We made today a very important decision for the future and further development of Austrian aviation. This decision will enable us to extend our route network worldwide for the benefit of our customers - from the South Seas to South America!"
Starting with the 2000 summer timetable, Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways will be partners in the powerful Miles & More program. From then, miles can be accrued and redeemed on all routes of the respected Star Alliance partners as well as other airlines joining this program.
All customers of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group - Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air, and Tyrolean Airways - can join in benefiting from a clearly expanded product.
Bonus miles accumulated in the Qualiflyer frequent flyer program remain valid and naturally will be honored to the same extent as previously by members of the Qualflyer Group as well as other airlines joining this program.
Current contracts and agreements with agents and corporate customers in Austria, will remain in existence in accordance with their term until the end of 1999. This important group of customers will be offered, through the worldwide presence and first-class quality of the Star Alliance partners, even more interesting business opportunities. After all, the customers of the Austrian Airlines Aviation Group will soon have 275,000 highly motivated "star employees" at their service.
Austrian Airlines is included in the Star Alliance Network as a valued partner. The customer-friendly implementation of the alliance switch is beginning already today. Austrian Airlines will announce new offers as well as changes that have been carried out.
"With this redefinition of our alliance strategy we can meet the interests of our customers as well as of our shareholders in the best possible way!" was the concluding statement of the presidents of Austrian Airlines.
Sep 21, 1999, 7:12 am
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Reading between the lines (and digesting what I just heard unofficially at lunch at the Swissotel: SR-press-conference):
- with introduction of the summer timetable means usually when Europe changes to summer time: end of march 2000
- no big future for the (at present time US only) Delta - UA partnership
- Singapore - SR might again evaluate to strenghten their partnership (Singapore airline 'people' were at this SR press conference ...)
- LH seems to be the main force behind this Austrian 'deal' (and others like AC?), at least that's the SR (european) opinion
- with introduction of the summer timetable means usually when Europe changes to summer time: end of march 2000
- no big future for the (at present time US only) Delta - UA partnership
- Singapore - SR might again evaluate to strenghten their partnership (Singapore airline 'people' were at this SR press conference ...)
- LH seems to be the main force behind this Austrian 'deal' (and others like AC?), at least that's the SR (european) opinion
Sep 21, 1999, 8:04 am
#9
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There is a side effect on this (as discussed on another thread) at least for European Amex Rewards members. Transfer Amex points to AUA rather quickly and you will have your Amex Points somehow converted into Star miles - if you can wait for using 'em till march 2000.
Sep 21, 1999, 8:20 am
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Rudi: After reading the results of BlondeBomber's translator you should never again apologize for your English! (Not that you should have anyway 
)
Hmmm... translator or Arturo?... It's a toss-up.
)Hmmm... translator or Arturo?... It's a toss-up.
Sep 21, 1999, 8:58 am
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If today's SR information is correct (and also if I interprete AUA's bulletin above correct), than (AU) Qualifyer miles will not be tranfered into 'new' currency. AUA will not have any 'mileage-currency' of their own afterwards - they simply join LH's mileage-plus-program - and the 'old' Qualifyer-miles will (only) 'survive' as Qualifyer miles. Qualifyer miles are valid till the end of the 3rd calendar year after earning (Qualifyer miles earned in 1999 ar valid until end of 2003).
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
Sep 21, 1999, 11:10 am
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SR's president Bruegisser just added in an interview:[*]SR will try to sell their AUA-shares, an estimated 160 Mio SFr value (100 Million US $)[*]SR will concentrate their Eastern Europe Partnership now on LOT (Polan) and will change from the Vienna hub to Warshow[*]SR also wants to finalize now their talks for a partnership with Malev (Hungary) and CSA (Tschech)[*]SR is still in talks with DL and AA and is looking forward to make a decision on their US partner till end of 99[*]Bruegisser says that partnerships in big alliances haven't always been good for shareholders of European airlines (he mentions Finnair shares being very bearish now for months)[*]Bruegisser says, that the AUA partnership (in Quaylifyer, but also code-share-flights, shared sales-offices in many places, shared lounges, etc. etc.) will probably end when the summer-flight-timetable 2000 starts (that's normally at the end of march).
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-21-1999).]
Sep 21, 1999, 4:51 pm
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Somehow the one we most expect to join the Star alliance next is sort of dragging their feet and keeping everyone guessing. -SQ-.
Now Star is turning into something of a nightmare for SQ. First they got booted out of the AN deal by NZ, and form what I know, things are not as rosy as they claim! Way back last year, they booted Austrian out of their code-share deal when they decided to partner with LH instead. That dug out a lot of bad blood between the two airlines (SQ & OS). Way back in the mid 80's, AC forbade SQ from carrying traffic between AMS/VIE and YYZ and that sort of threw the Singapore/Canada bilateral air services agreement away, and I am surprised to read last year that SQ and AC are going to collaberate? I thought SQ hated ACs' guts...so now what problems SQ must now face. Sleeping with the enemies, literally !
Now Star is turning into something of a nightmare for SQ. First they got booted out of the AN deal by NZ, and form what I know, things are not as rosy as they claim! Way back last year, they booted Austrian out of their code-share deal when they decided to partner with LH instead. That dug out a lot of bad blood between the two airlines (SQ & OS). Way back in the mid 80's, AC forbade SQ from carrying traffic between AMS/VIE and YYZ and that sort of threw the Singapore/Canada bilateral air services agreement away, and I am surprised to read last year that SQ and AC are going to collaberate? I thought SQ hated ACs' guts...so now what problems SQ must now face. Sleeping with the enemies, literally !