Star Alliance - the airline network for Earth - today announced key changes to its management organization to facilitate the member airlines` shift of focus from expanding the alliance to deepening the degree of cooperation among its members.

Star Alliance has grown rapidly since its creation in May of 1997. In the past three years, Star Alliance has made great strides in its efforts to provide frequent travelers with seamless service to all corners of the world. As of July 1, the global partnership comprises 13 members, and the combined route network covers more than 815 destinations in over 130 countries.
In a recent Merrill Lynch Global Airline Benchmark, Star Alliance was outlined as “the front-runner in the airline industry`s effort to build the most comprehensive global network.” Now, with the basic framework of the alliance almost complete, the Star Alliance member carriers have agreed to accelerate the process of further cementing the level of cooperation between members. In addition to providing a clear distinction between supervisory and management functions the changes entail employing full-time senior executives and staff to manage all Star Alliance activities in an organization headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Deputy CEO.

The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has asked its most experienced alliance builders, Friedel Rödig of Lufthansa and Bruce Harris of United Airlines to take on the task of developing the new organization. Friedel Rödig, who for the past three years has served in a combined supervisory/management role, will assume the post of CEO. His Deputy, Bruce Harris, is to become Deputy CEO and Chief Administrative Officer. The organizational changes are effective July 1, 2000.

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