Airline Alliances 2026
Three global alliances link 59 airlines: one ticket across members, shared lounges for top-status flyers, and miles you can earn on any member. Member lists, status tiers and benefits, checked against each alliance.
Photos: Star Alliance: Mitchul Hope, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. · oneworld: Colin Cooke Photo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. · SkyTeam: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The three alliances at a glance
Founded, size, reach and status tiers, side by side.
| Alliance | Founded | Members | Reach | Status tiers | Key members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Alliance | 1997 | 26 | 1,150+ airports, 190 countries | SilverGold | Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, United Airlines |
| oneworld | 1999 | 15 | 900+ destinations, 170 territories | RubySapphireEmerald | American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas |
| SkyTeam | 2000 | 18 | 945 destinations, 145 countries | EliteElite Plus | Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air |
Key members shown are the founders still in each alliance. Figures: staralliance.com/members, read 17 October 2026; oneworld.com/members, read 17 October 2026; skyteam.com, read 17 October 2026.
Explore each alliance
Full member lists with joining dates, hub maps, status tiers and benefits.
Which alliance is my airline in?
All 59 member airlines of the three alliances, A to Z.
Star Alliance26Aegean AirlinesA3
Air CanadaAC
Air ChinaCA
Air IndiaAI
Air New ZealandNZ
All Nippon Airways (ANA)NH
Asiana AirlinesOZ
Austrian AirlinesOS
AviancaAV
Brussels AirlinesSN
Copa AirlinesCM
Croatia AirlinesOU
EgyptAirMS
Ethiopian AirlinesET
EVA AirBR
ITA AirwaysAZ
LOT Polish AirlinesLO
LufthansaLH
Shenzhen AirlinesZHSingapore AirlinesSQ
South African AirwaysSA
SWISSLX
TAP Air PortugalTP
Thai AirwaysTG
Turkish AirlinesTK
United AirlinesUA
oneworld15
Member lists: Star Alliance member table on Wikipedia, checked 17 October 2026; oneworld.com/members and the oneworld member table on Wikipedia, checked 17 October 2026; SkyTeam member table on Wikipedia and skyteam.com, checked 17 October 2026.
Big airlines in no alliance
These airlines sell connections through their own codeshare and partner deals instead.
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Ryanair
easyJet
Southwest Airlines
Virgin Australia
El Al
Starlux Airlines
Checked against each airline’s Wikipedia article, 17 October 2026.
How codeshares work inside an alliance
You book one airline
For example a London–New York flight on ba.com, sold under a BA flight number.
A partner flies it
The flight may be operated by a partner such as American Airlines, shown before you pay.
One trip, one ticket
Bags go through to your final stop, and you earn miles in your own airline's programme.
Regional alliances
Smaller groups of airlines that link up in one region.
Airline alliance questions
What are the three major airline alliances?
Star Alliance (26 member airlines, founded 1997), oneworld (15 members, founded 1999) and SkyTeam (18 members, founded 2000).
Which airline alliance is the largest?
Star Alliance has the most members: 26 airlines serving 1,150+ airports in 190 countries. SkyTeam has 18 members and oneworld 15.
Is Emirates in an airline alliance?
No. Emirates is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. It works with other airlines through its own codeshare and partner agreements.
What is a codeshare flight?
One airline operates the flight and other airlines sell seats on it under their own flight numbers. Your ticket shows which airline operates each flight.
Do airline alliances share lounges?
Yes, for travellers with top status. Star Alliance Gold opens designated member lounges; oneworld Emerald opens First and Business lounges and Sapphire opens Business lounges.
Which airline alliance is the newest?
SkyTeam, founded on 22 June 2000 by Delta, Air France, Aeroméxico and Korean Air. Star Alliance dates from 1997 and oneworld from 1999.