All Nippon Airways Co. President Yoji Ohashi could hardly contain his joy last month when he witnessed the entry of Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's No. 2 carrier, into Star Alliance, the world's largest airline coalition.
"We have eagerly awaited this moment," Ohashi said at a joint news conference in a Seoul hotel. "We acknowledge the rapid economic development in (South) Korea and China, and expect Asiana to make the most of its vitality for expanding Star Alliance networks in fast-growing Northeast Asia."
Asiana's move is part of a global trend in multilateral tieups. ANA, Japan's second-largest airline, joined Star Alliance in 1999, becoming the only Japanese carrier to join the trend. Star now has 15 members.