Star adds Turkish Airlines; eyeing India

Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht called Turkish Airlines a "rising star" but a more appropriate metaphor might be a bridge--one that connects Europe to the Middle East and Asia and offers access to a vibrant tourist destination and a growing economy in which a scant 5% of 70 million people fly commercially.
Throw in THY's ambition to become a major network carrier with global reach and the result was Saturday's lavish ceremony just off Taksim Square in Istanbul in which Turkish officially committed to becoming the alliance's 21st member. The alliance said THY should attain full membership in 16 months.
Albrecht said Star identified Turkey as a "white spot on the globe"--a place in which the grouping was under-represented. He mentioned India and Russia as others and said the addition of a carrier from one of those countries should be announced in 2007.
11/12/06 ATWOnline, US

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