Star Alliance is on track

GLOBAL airline association, Star Alliance, has accepted a new non-aviation partner as a member this week, as the group looks to bolster its sustainability credentials moving forward.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has become the first intermodal Partner of Star Alliance, meaning passengers of Star Alliance member airlines can now start or end their long-distance journey by train in Germany by booking combined air and rail tickets in one transaction from 01 Aug.

Airline customers can order a combined ticket for the flight and train trips, including seat reservation, and upon check-in shortly before the train departs, travellers will receive boarding passes for all transport options.

“Today brings great forces together and opens the Star Alliance doors beyond the airline ecosystem,” Star Alliance CEO

Jeffrey Goh said.

“Our new model for intermodal partnerships promises seamless coexistence between different modes of transport throughout the alliance,” he added.

Star Alliance board member, Michael Peterson, also revealed the group would seek out more intermodal partnerships in the future as it attempts to boost seamless travel and sustainability.

“With attractive inner-German connections and simultaneous links to international travel chains, Deutsche Bahn and Star Alliance make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector,” Peterson said.

“The new partnership complements our successful cooperation with Lufthansa Express Rail... and this is how we get more people off the plane and onto environmentally friendly rail,” he added.