TOKYO-22 October 1998 All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) ,today announced its intention to join the Star Alliance, the airline network for earth. The official announcement is scheduled to be made today at a joint press conference, in Rio de Janeiro, with the Chief Executive Officers of the Star Alliance partner airlines and Kichisaburo Nomura, President and Chief Executive Officer of ANA.

ANA will join the six founding members of Star Alliance -- Air Canada, Lufthansa German Airlines, SAS _ Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, United Airlines and VARIG Brazilian Airlines _ along with Air New Zealand and Ansett Australia, which have announced their intent to become members in 1999.

Star Alliance's vision is seamless travel. Customers traveling on any of the Star Alliance partner airlines collect frequent flyer points on all of the Star Alliance airlines and credit them to their home airline account. Star Alliance business travelers visit airport lounges of any member airline, anywhere in the world. Travelers benefit from schedules and facilities that are constantly being re-designed for better coordination and convenience.

"In the midst of a tough competitive era with varying passenger needs, our goal is to improve convenience and comfort of air travel, which is also the basic concept of the Star Alliance. ANA has decided to join the Star Alliance to pursue the goal together with partner airlines whose objectives are in common." stated Nomura.
Through check-in and other services between partner airlines also mean that customers will be able to enjoy a more convenient and comfortable travel to destinations all over the world. A smart business strategy combined with the Star Alliance's substantial brand value will also mean a real increase in revenues for ANA.

By around October 1999, ANA will become an official member of the Star Alliance. However, ANA will commence services such as joint frequent flyers' program, through check-in and common use of airport lounge with partner airlines when ready. Code share operation, joint marketing and advertisement will also be considered.

Last year ANA carried over 40 million passengers. ANA serves 35 domestic and 29 international destinations, with over 600 flights a day.

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