Star Alliance Corporate Plus, the alliance’s
programme for global corporate travel needs, has continued its successful growth
since its inception seven years ago with figures for 2007, the alliance’s 10th anniversary year, showing a further 10 per cent
increase with flown revenues rising from 2.2 billion euro to 2.4 billion euro.

The addition of Air China and Shanghai Airlines has proved popular with corporate
customers, as access to the booming market China has been improved. Henkel, a
worldwide leading producer of Home
Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies products, and an existing global
Corporate Plus client of Star Alliance commented: “We share the delight over the
joining of Air China and Shanghai
Airlines into the alliance. By including the carriers into our global agreement, we
now have more travel options throughout Asia for our employees to choose from,” said
Birgit Schenscher, Director
Global Purchasing Services.

The Corporate Plus programme has recently grown with the joining of Turkish Airlines
on April 1,, 2008 and will be further enhanced with the imminent joining of
Egyptair.

With Star Alliance already having more corporate accounts than any other airline
alliance, the main focus has been on deepening and maintaining existing
relationships. Nevertheless, six new corporate
accounts now make use of the benefits provided by Star Alliance Corporate Plus and
the Star Alliance network.

“The fact that we have again achieved a further increase in revenues through Star
Alliance Corporate Plus, pegged against a background of a more volatile global
economy, clearly speaks about the high
degree of market acceptance of this product,” said Christopher Korenke, Vice
President, Commercial at Star Alliance.

“This tailor-made product brings great value to global corporations and their travel
management. By recognising the global purchasing power we bring the best offer to
the table, compared to local and
individual deals.
Simplicity is guaranteed by having only one point of contact working within a clear
timeline and framework on one legal platform. The contract implementation phase is
centrally done, and bespoke
account management plans lead the way to a successful contract and relationship,”
said Korenke.
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