Table of Contents
TL;DR
- Star Alliance has 26 member airlines in 2026, following ITA Airways’ official entry in April.
- United Airlines and Air Canada remain the two Star Alliance member airlines based in North America, anchoring the alliance’s transatlantic and transpacific connections.
- Asiana Airlines is set to leave the alliance on December 17, 2026, as it fully merges into SkyTeam’s Korean Air, and Star Alliance has confirmed it will not honor award bookings made on Asiana for travel after that date.
- Beyond the 26 full members, Juneyao Airlines participates as a Star Alliance connecting partner, offering smoother transfers without full membership.
- Status earned with any one of the Star Alliance member airlines carries over across the network, unlocking Star Alliance Gold or Silver recognition on every other carrier in the group.
Founded in 1997 by Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways, and United Airlines, Star Alliance was the first global airline alliance, and it remains the largest one today. Understanding exactly which Star Alliance member airlines exist in 2026, and how they fit together, makes a real difference for anyone booking award travel or chasing elite status across borders. Here’s a complete look at the current roster of Star Alliance member airlines, the coverage they offer, and what changed most recently.
Why Airline Alliances Matter
Before getting into the list of Star Alliance member airlines, it’s worth understanding what membership actually buys a traveler. Alliances exist to link networks that no single carrier could build alone, and the Star Alliance network is the largest example of that model, covering more than 1,150 airports across roughly 190 countries.
Flying with Star Alliance member airlines typically means:
- Earning and redeeming miles across the entire alliance, not just with the airline you booked.
- Through-checked baggage on connecting itineraries between Star Alliance member airlines, even when tickets are issued separately.
- Shared elite-status recognition, so status earned with one carrier’s frequent flyer program is honored by every other airline in the group.
- Coordinated schedules and shared terminals at many hub airports, which shortens connection times between Star Alliance member airlines.
There are three major global alliances: Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld. Star Alliance remains the largest by both passenger traffic and airline count, and it has held the title of World’s Best Airline Alliance from Skytrax multiple years running.
The Full List of Star Alliance Member Airlines (2026)
As of mid-2026, there are 26 Star Alliance member airlines. The most recent addition, ITA Airways, formally joined in April 2026, replacing Italy’s earlier presence in the group after the collapse of Alitalia.
| Airline | Hub City | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Athens | Europe |
| Air Canada | Toronto/Montreal | North America |
| Air China | Beijing | Asia |
| Air India | Delhi/Mumbai | Asia |
| Air New Zealand | Auckland | Oceania |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Tokyo | Asia |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul | Asia (leaving Dec 2026) |
| Austrian Airlines | Vienna | Europe |
| Avianca | Bogotá | South America |
| Brussels Airlines | Brussels | Europe |
| Copa Airlines | Panama City | Central America |
| Croatia Airlines | Zagreb | Europe |
| EGYPTAIR | Cairo | Africa/Middle East |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa | Africa |
| EVA Air | Taipei | Asia |
| ITA Airways | Rome | Europe |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Warsaw | Europe |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt/Munich | Europe |
| Shenzhen Airlines | Shenzhen | Asia |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | Asia |
| South African Airways | Johannesburg | Africa |
| SWISS | Zurich | Europe |
| TAP Air Portugal | Lisbon | Europe |
| THAI (Thai Airways) | Bangkok | Asia |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul | Europe/Asia |
| United Airlines | Chicago/Denver/Newark | North America |
Together, these 26 Star Alliance member airlines cover every populated continent, with especially deep coverage across Europe and Asia. That regional density is one of the biggest practical advantages of the alliance: a traveler connecting through Frankfurt, Istanbul, or Tokyo can usually find several Star Alliance member airlines operating out of the same terminal.
Recent Changes to the Star Alliance Member Airlines Roster
- Airline alliance membership isn’t static, and the list of Star Alliance member airlines has shifted more than once in the past few years.
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) left Star Alliance in 2024 after being acquired by the Air France-KLM Group, moving over to SkyTeam instead. SAS was one of the alliance’s five founding carriers, which made its departure a notable break from Star Alliance’s original lineup.
- ITA Airways joined as a full member in April 2026, giving Star Alliance a renewed foothold in the Italian market after Alitalia’s exit years earlier.
Asiana Airlines is scheduled to leave the alliance on December 17, 2026, as its brand is fully absorbed into SkyTeam member Korean Air following their merger. Star Alliance has stated it will not honor Asiana award tickets booked for travel after that departure date, so anyone holding Asiana award space this far out should keep an eye on the timeline.
These moves are a reminder that the roster of Star Alliance member airlines can change with little warning when an airline is acquired, merges, or restructures its ownership. Checking the current member list before booking a long-haul award itinerary is always worth the extra minute.
Star Alliance Connecting Partners
Not every airline that cooperates with Star Alliance is a full member. Juneyao Airlines, based in China, has held Star Alliance connecting partner status since 2017. That designation allows through-checked baggage and single-ticket connections on select routes, but it stops short of full membership, meaning Juneyao doesn’t appear on the official list of Star Alliance member airlines and its own frequent flyer program isn’t part of the shared mileage-earning network in the same way.
A handful of other regional carriers, including Taiwan’s Starlux, Canada’s Porter Airlines, and MIAT Mongolian Airlines, have reportedly expressed interest in joining a global alliance, though none currently sit among the Star Alliance member airlines.
How Elite Status Works Across Star Alliance Member Airlines
One of the strongest reasons to pay attention to Star Alliance member airlines specifically, rather than just booking whichever fare is cheapest, is the alliance’s shared Star Alliance elite status system. Star Alliance recognizes two tiers: Silver and Gold.
- Star Alliance Silver status offers modest perks, mainly priority waitlisting and standby priority when flights are full.
- Star Alliance Gold status, earned through top or upper-mid elite tiers with programs like United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, or Lufthansa Miles&More, unlocks lounge access at more than 1,000 airports, priority check-in, Gold Track security and immigration lanes where available, priority boarding, priority baggage handling, and an extra checked-baggage allowance on most fares.
Because status recognition applies across the group, a traveler with Gold status through one program can walk into a lounge or skip a line with almost any of the other Star Alliance member airlines, not just the one whose program they belong to. That’s a meaningfully different experience from loyalty programs that only reward flying with a single carrier.
There are a couple of exceptions worth flagging:
- United MileagePlus Gold members can access United Clubs within the United States only when connecting to an international Star Alliance flight on the same day.
- Additional baggage allowances may not apply to the cheapest “Light” fares offered by airlines such as Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and SWISS.
Booking Award Travel With Star Alliance Member Airlines
Because miles earned with any Star Alliance member airline can generally be redeemed for flights on any other member, travelers have real flexibility in choosing which frequent flyer program to use for an award booking. A flight operated by United, for example, can be booked using Singapore KrisFlyer miles, Air Canada Aeroplan points, or several other Star Alliance member airlines’ currencies, and the best program to use often comes down to which one publishes the lowest Star Alliance award chart for that specific route.
Want to see what’s actually bookable before committing miles to a route? Search live award availability across Star Alliance member airlines on Flightpoints first, then run the numbers through Flightpoints’ points value calculator to confirm the redemption is worth it compared to buying the ticket outright.
Conclusion
With 26 Star Alliance member airlines spanning every inhabited continent, Star Alliance remains the broadest network of its kind, even as its exact lineup keeps shifting. ITA Airways’ arrival and Asiana’s upcoming exit are the latest reminders that the list of Star Alliance member airlines isn’t fixed, and staying current on membership changes matters most right before you lock in an award booking or chase a status milestone.
Once you know which Star Alliance member airlines are flying your route, set up instant, unlimited alerts on Flightpoints so you’re notified the moment award space opens up.
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Get Flightpoints ProFAQs
Q: How many Star Alliance member airlines are there in 2026?
A: There are 26 Star Alliance member airlines as of mid-2026, following ITA Airways’ addition in April. Asiana Airlines is scheduled to leave the group on December 17, 2026.
Q: Which Star Alliance member airlines serve North America?
A: United Airlines and Air Canada are the two Star Alliance member airlines headquartered in North America, and both operate extensive hub networks that connect to the rest of the alliance.
Q: Is Turkish Airlines a Star Alliance member airline?
A: Yes. Turkish Airlines, based in Istanbul, is one of the 26 current Star Alliance member airlines and operates one of the alliance’s largest route networks by destination count.
Q: What’s the difference between a Star Alliance member and a connecting partner?
A: Full Star Alliance member airlines share reciprocal elite status, mileage-earning, and through-checked baggage across the entire network. Connecting partners, such as Juneyao Airlines, offer smoother transfers on select routes but aren’t part of the core group of Star Alliance member airlines.
Q: Why is Asiana Airlines leaving Star Alliance?
A: Asiana Airlines is merging fully into Korean Air, a SkyTeam member, and will exit the roster of Star Alliance member airlines on December 17, 2026. Star Alliance has confirmed it won’t honor Asiana award bookings for travel after that date.
Q: Does status with one Star Alliance member airline work on the others?
A: Yes. Star Alliance Gold and Silver status earned through any one of the Star Alliance member airlines’ frequent flyer programs is recognized across the entire alliance, including lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage allowance on most fares.
