Avianca Brasil to exit Star Alliance

Brazilian airline Ocean Air Linhas Aéreas, formerly known as Avianca Brasil, will formally leave Star Alliance with effect from September 1, 2019. Star Alliance is the airline alliance that allows members of frequent flyer programmes to earn and spend loyalty points and air miles across other member airlines.

 Ocean Air’s withdrawal follows several months of bankruptcy protection and the withdrawal of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Brazilian regulator ANAC.

 From September 1, 2019, Star Alliance will have 27 member airlines.

 Avianca Brasil initially joined Star Alliance in 2015. The exit of Avianca Brasil doesn’t affect the membership of Colombian airline Avianca.

Eleven of the Star Alliance member airlines offer direct services to and from Brazil: Air Canada, Avianca, Air China, Copa Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United.

 The current Star Alliance members are Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Ocean Air Linhas Aéreas S/A (formerly doing business as Avianca Brasil),  Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines.