Bangkok--26 Sep--thaiairways Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, has won the Best Airline Alliance Award from Business Traveller (UK), for the third consecutive year. “Receiving the Business Traveller Best Airline Alliance Award for the third consecutive year is continuing proof that Star Alliance continues to be the airline alliance of choice for the international traveller”, said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance. “My thanks also go to employees of our member carriers for delivering the Star Alliance customer promise across the worldwide network.” The Business Traveller (UK) awards are recognised throughout the industry as the premier honours for business travel, and span 46 categories from hotels and airlines to car rental companies and luggage brands. The readers of Business Traveller UK were polled between April and June 2008, with the results having been analysed by an independent research company. In addition to the airline alliance award, 17 further airline awards were handed out. Of these, eight were given to airlines belonging to the Star Alliance: LOT Polish Airlines (1), Singapore Airlines (6) and South African Airways (1). About Star Alliance: The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance received the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award in 2008 and was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003, 2006 and 2007 and by Skytrax in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The members are Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Egyptair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Air India and Continental have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 18,100 daily flights to 975 destinations in 162 countries. For further information please contact: Star Alliance Press Office, Tel: +49 69 96375 183, Fax: +49 69 96375 683, Email: [email protected], www.staralliance.com