The program offers elite status levels such as Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum,. There are six major frequent flyer programs, each an alliance of several airlines. American Airlines is one of the world's largest and most recognizable airlines. Today, the Qantas Group is a diverse global aviation business comprising of regional, domestic and international services; Jetstar, the low-cost carrier group as well as Qantas Loyalty, Australia’s largest frequent flyer program. Stefanie Waldek Published on June 27, 2022 Photo: Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines Every airline in the United States has a frequent flier program, and if you take a few flights a. But not all airline rewards programs in the United States are created equal. They make it easy to use and make it clear what charges you will pay (nominal taxes and fees). Whether elite status is the goal or whether you’re simply trying to save money on business travel expenses, there are certain factors to take into account before committing to a frequent flyer program. Typical awards include a free ticket, food and beverage perks, or a free upgrade from economy seating to higher seating class. 9 billion U. 50. British Airways flight on the runway in Spain. Hawaiian Airlines offers the most rewards value per dollar spent, followed by Frontier. Wanna Get Away: 6 points per dollar. , ranked from skip it (worst) to open an account today (first). North America, and Australia. The Maharaja’s frequent flyer programme. Total 31 partner airlines. From its first day, Star served every inhabited continent, in a clear illustration of why alliances exist: You can travel pretty much everywhere on alliance carriers. Delta SkyMiles (Best for Redemption Policies) 4. Download MPX. Cathay. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card Review. $100 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in eligible. They are making big changes to their program in 2024: instead of Miles you will be earning Points. Delta SkyMiles. All major U. Qantas points can also be earned via credit cards co-branded with the airlines. The frequent-flyer clubs of marquee Asian airlines including Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Two interesting new developments have come about in the past two weeks with regard to airline frequent flyer programs in the United States. One of the very best frequent flyer programs of 2022, in our opinion, is British Airways who just narrowly beat off Virgin Atlantic because of one small detail. The lower-reward Miles & More World MasterCard and Miles & More Platinum MasterCard come with a lower sign-on bonus that corresponds to a lower. FoxBucks redemptions start at 1,600 points for $20 in FoxBucks and go up to 8,000 points for $100 in FoxBucks. "In general SkyMiles is the weakest major loyalty program. April 2022 Region United States Survey time period as of 2022 Supplementary notes The source defines: Frequent Flyer: annual airfare budget of 321 U. Delta commensurately rewards those who fly more often. Increased Rewards in 2022: Three of the. It allows members to earn and redeem miles on flights with American Airlines and all one world partner airlines. D. But the situation is markedly improved now. AAdvantage members can earn miles by flying with American Airlines, oneworld alliance partners, and various other partners. Some of the most popular. That’s because many of the U. From being asked at the supermarket checkout if you’re a rewards program member to being prompted for a membership number when checking out online. How to Use JetBlue's Frequent Flyer Program. Aerolíneas Plus . ) Radisson Rewards Americas has now merged with Choice Privileges. Partner credit cards. 14 cents apiece, no blackout dates on award flights, and multiple ways to. S. Inter-Island Flying in Hawaii. It’s one of the highest-earning Qantas Point cards and comes with a $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year plus a range of premium travel benefits. MileagePlus supplants last year’s winner, Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan, as. AirBaltic to Become the. Contact us now. While I talk about the program a lot. 50 joining fee, although there are many ways to join for free. Much like other frequent flyer programs, your highest earning potential often comes from. The equation. United MileagePlus is the best frequent flyer program of 2023, beating last year’s winner Alaska Mileage Plan. Business Select: 12 points per dollar. Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles. Granted, only 16-23 million of American Airlines AAdvantage program members are active , but Aeroplan has members without recent activity too and remains dwarfed 3-5:1 assuming every. Aug. One of the very best frequent flyer programs of 2022, in our opinion, is British Airways who just narrowly beat off Virgin Atlantic because of one small detail. UNITED AIRLINES. SkyTeam airlines and their frequent flyer programs are: Aerolinas Argentinas – Aerolinas Plus; Aero Mexico – Club Premier; Air Europa – Suma; Air France – Flying BlueDelta, being a dominant airline brand, hasn't needed to invest much in its frequent flyer programs, according to Leff. The program began in 1993 and has different tiers for their member. Finding the best frequent flyer program depends on how often you fly and how much you spend when you do. The No. 68 percent across the three usage scenarios WalletHub examined. In the case of American Airlines, its loyalty program is more profitable than actually flying airplanes. Top 10 best frequent flyer programs to join in 2022. HawaiianMiles. The program was launched in 1993 and is now the largest frequent flyer. Diamond Plus – 15%. However, Texas International Airlines is largely credited with creating the first mileage-based frequent flyer program back in 1979. Frequent flyers of the airline will be familiar with the TrueBlue program, with elite flyers earning Mosiac status to access perks. Best frequent flyer programs of 2022. American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program is the largest frequent flyer program and one of the longest-standing programs still around. Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles. The report measured international over 150 carriers around the world by three metrics: passengers carried, revenue, and frequent flyer program memberships. 3. Shopping rewards programs. United MileagePlus cards. Travel is not cheap. Gold – 5%. Rewards are issued in the form of miles or points, and you can also earn elite status to. Ashutosh Garg. Power’s 2018 airline loyalty satisfaction survey saw financial gains, with the three largest — American Airlines Group Inc. Pent-up demand is driving travelers to frequent flyer programs and rewards credit cards, but airlines are making it harder to cash in on popular perks. You earn Alaska miles by flying with Alaska or its partners. Airlines that use frequent-flyer programs are practicing:, As recently as 20 years ago, circuses came to town with tents, animals, clowns, and other performers. The basic premise is that if you spend your money with one airline, it will give you miles or points to redeem for free flights, better seats and. Qantas Airways is Australia's largest airline and the national flag carrier. The toughest two award tickets in all of frequent flyerdom are Australia/New Zealand and French Polynesia. Peak — 2 months of the year, where pricing is 50% more than off-peak pricing. A few years ago, Joe DeNardi, a Stifel analyst, published a sensational report that contained estimated values of some of the biggest US airlines’ loyalty programs. Dedicated A-List Preferred member phone line. This means that you can earn Enrich miles when you fly with Malaysia Airlines and. 75 billion CARES Act loan. Rex frequent flyer program. 1 day ago · Dallas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV) is the largest airline carrier at Tampa International Airport, with 16. Best “Frequent Flyer” Airline Rewards Programs; Make the Most of Your Miles in the Sky; To learn more about your financial options beyond “9 Best Airline Rewards Programs: Expert Guide (Nov. The new decade brings more rivalry competition between the biggest airlines in the industry than ever before, all with an eye on. As a Miles & More member, you can earn miles on all Lufthansa flights. 55:1: 0. The origins of LPs can be traced back to the 20th century when they started to emerge among airlines and retailers. You can also redeem these miles for lots of attractive. For example, Delta’s latest annual report shows last year that the company earned US$5. fell. For example, Delta’s latest annual report shows last year that the company earned US$5. May 25, 2011 -- I first became aware, painfully, of airline mileage programs in the. A Guide to Budget Airlines Around the World. The alliance saw its most recent member join on March 1st, with Virgin Atlantic entering SkyTeam after years of close association with members like Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM. Guadeloupe. Operated by the Lufthansa Group and a Star Alliance member, the program has an impressive number of hubs and a global network to match. Elite members of each oneworld frequent flyer program enjoy standardised premium benefits across the board, called ‘oneworld Priority’. In 2014, Velocity won every category in the equivalent of the travel industry’s Oscars. It operates both domestic and international flights to more than 85 destinations worldwide. In addition to distance traveled, the number of points required for a Classic Flight Reward is influenced by an airline or partner flight. A Guide to Airlines Frequent Flyer Schemes. The frequent flyer program is divided into three tiers; Silver, Gold and Platinum. The program was launched in 1993 and is now the largest frequent flyer. Which Frequent Flyer Program is Best for Me? The biggest U. Spend on Asiana Airlines credit cards. Each Day Means More Miles. Every quarter, he will provide you with a summary of all the key news and first-hand information. S. Typically, you accumulate a set amount of miles based on how much you. Four of the 10 largest airlines. “When frequent flyer programs launched 40 years ago, the schemes were. Costa Rica. . Lufthansa’s Miles and More programme, is part of the Star Alliance, which has more than 25 million members, making it one of the largest and best frequent flyer programmes in Europe. MileagePlus from United Airlines. Virgin Atlantic. 2 cents each, redemptions that give you at least that much value are a decent option. Category bonus earning. The best airline credit cards offer perks that can save frequent flyers hundreds of dollars a year. Virgin Australia and Velocity are constantly working hard to gain the loyalty of Australian travellers. Cathay is the first consideration as the hometown option for Hong Kong based travellers. In 1981, American Airlines launched its first electronic reward scheme called AAdvantage, which remains the world’s largest frequent flyer program with up to 67 million members today (Points, 2020). LIFEMILES (AVIANCA) Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Virgin Australia Velocity ». Delta Air Lines / Facebook. With 13 million members, Qantas Frequent Flyer is Australia’s largest airline loyalty scheme. Earn miles on dining out, overnight stays, rideshares, shopping sprees and more with the brands you love. Travel privileges for frequent flyers. 6 billion, Delta’s SkyMiles was estimated at $33. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyMiles, the frequent flyer program of Delta Air Lines, is the world's most valuable airline loyalty program, according to the On Point Loyalty 2023 Top. S. S. American Airlines' AAdvantage is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs today. Each airline has its own program with different rules and benefits, but the basic concept is the. The program is huge, but most accounts are dormant. oneworld®. The largest U. It is through AA that you can tap into the power of one of the largest airline conglomerates in the industry. Fortunately, WalletHub has once again compared the 10 largest U. S. Southwest Rapid Rewards. Elite Status. The lower-reward Miles & More World MasterCard and Miles & More Platinum MasterCard come with a lower sign-on bonus that corresponds to a lower annual fee and earning rate (one award mile per dollar on all purchases). The program also serves as the frequent flyer program for Kenya Airways and TAROM, and the small regional airline Aircalin in New Caledonia. . Your Aeroplan Miles will be honoured on a one-to-one basis in our new loyalty program when it launches in 2020. SkyTeam was the third of the three largest alliances to be formed, opening in 2000. WNS Global Services. Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. For most travellers, joining Marco Polo has a US$100 fee, although it may be waived as part of a corporate deal or if you can show Cathay you will be a high spender. According to it, American Airlines’ AAdvantage was worth $37. With 4,500 daily flights to more than 300 cities across five continents, United is among the largest airlines in the world—and has one of the. Book hotels on Rocketmiles and get up to 10,000 miles per night, every time. 20 per. m. Assuming 25,000 miles per reward ticket, 1,000 miles was worth about $18. Miles & More, Europe's largest frequent-flyer program. United Airlines’ MileagePlus is the best frequent-flyer program, a new report by a personal-finance website says. The 'old' Frontier EarlyReturns frequent flyer program had just one elite status level that was unlocked with 20,000 miles of Frontier flying in a calendar year or 25 flown Frontier segments. Frequent flyer programs have been widely regardedas an essential factor influencing air passengers’ choice of airlines in different countries. 5 to 2. Australia has two of the world’s largest frequent flyer programs, the Qantas Frequent Flyer and the Velocity program. Annual fee: $525. The origins of frequent flyer programs remain murky since several airlines tracked customers and their flight activity starting in the 1950s and 1960s. These are their top-rated frequent flyer programs: United Airlines – MileagePlus. Their claim to being the largest frequent flyer program is caveated as being prior to removing inactive accounts from their database. HawaiianMiles from Hawaiian Airlines. 3 billion in 2023, per On Point. 2. AAdvantage from American Airlines MORE FROM FORBES ADVISOR. However, you can typically expect to need between 50,000 and 100,000 points for a business class ticket. Its 26 airlines cover every continent, and it probably offers the fewest 'gaps' of. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY. MileagePlus from United Airlines. For frequent and infrequent air travelers alike, a reliable and rewarding frequent flyer program can truly enhance your travel experiences. (photo via United Airlines Media) by Patrick Clarke. The program earned an average score of 60. Main Findings. Ranked as the nation’s third-largest loyalty program, Velocity has undergone a significant transformation over the. (Image: Josh Withers) In 1995, a typical ticket cost $454 in today’s prices, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 2. S. American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program is the largest frequent flyer program and one of the longest-standing programs still around. With 4,500 daily flights to more than 300 cities across five continents, United is among the largest airlines in the world—and has one of the best loyalty programs. SkyTeam expresses its dedication to powering the most seamless customer journey possible. Off-Peak — Most of the year, when pricing is 50% less than peak. Advertisement. The publication includes membership statistics for 53 frequent flyer programs and employment totals for 91 airlines. Power’s 2018 airline loyalty satisfaction survey saw financial gains, with the three largest—American Airlines Group Inc. Frequent-flyer programs -- which now enroll nearly 200 million customers -- are the largest, and most brazen, commercial bribery systems ever. Rounding out the. The Lufthansa group’s Miles & More program used to be excellent until a massive devaluation occurred 3 years ago. Rest assured that every one of your miles will. Updated. S. Here's what you need to know about earning miles with SkyMiles. The British Airways frequent flyer program is known as the Executive Club, where travelers earn points called Avios. Photo credit: Philippine Airlines. That’s because many of the U. Customers can use them as loyalty cards for businesses to receive rewards for every dollar spent. The total number of travelers impacted remains unclear but the figure is over 2. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY. 5: 2,000: ANZ Rewards: 2:1:. XiamenAir. How do I know how many miles will I earn? At the beginning the idea was easy — you’ve flown 2,500 nautical miles and you earned 2,500 miles to. Search for international and domestic flights to your preferred destination on Air India. The Alaska Airlines. 7% of total revenue. I live near a major United Airlines international hub. You can learn more about Miles & More on the Lufthansa website here. Price-based frequent flyer programs include however largest American airlines such as: Delta and United. 1. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a frequent flyer program. You can continue to earn and redeem Aeroplan Miles without interruption. The origins of LPs can be traced back to the 20th century when they started to emerge among airlines and retailers. One of the program’s major upsides is its numerous flight routes to popular destinations in Asia, Mexico, Australia, Central America, South America, and Europe. Anytime: 10 points per dollar. S. 67/5. Why we chose this program: The cheapest available. Assuming 25,000 miles per reward ticket, 1,000 miles was worth about $18. American Airlines intends to pledge its AAdvantage loyal program against a $4. In 2020, American Airlines' frequent flyer program, AAdvantage, generated only 2. Hawaiian Airlines was the runner up for value, with $16. American Airlines AAdvantage (Best for Airline Coverage) Some main findings from the study reveal that seven of the 10 largest airlines are offering less reward value in 2023 than in 2022. 19 May, 2022. Best Hotel Rewards Programs #1. Spirit Airlines — Free. Velocity Frequent Flyer is the second-largest airline loyalty program in Australia, with more than 10 million members. Qantas’ frequent flyer program, Qantas Frequent Flyer, is one of the oldest in the world and offers members perks such as lounge access, bonus points, priority. American Airlines is one of the largest commercial airlines, operating about 6,700 daily flights to 350 destinations in 50. The alliance offers three standardised tiers, allowing travellers to enjoy the same or similar benefits from one airline to another. It can help you earn miles for a huge variety of frequent flyer mile programs, so you’re sure to find one that you’re targeting for accumulation. The overall rankings are based on three annual airfare budgets, including light ($321. The hotel section of the Big Book presents a unique perspective for industry metrics with estimated room revenue for the individual brands of 10 hotel groups. Your frequent flyer program can also allow customers to collect points when they spend on a co-branded credit card. Carriers have always benefited from frequent flyer programs but now have more leverage with banks than several years ago so they can exert higher prices. S. School New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) Course Title MANAGMENT 204; Uploaded By DeaconSparrow776. The best frequent flyer program for you largely depends on where you fly. Pages 398 Ratings 100% (1) 1 out of 1 people found this document helpful;Hawaiian Airlines offers the most rewards value to frequent flyers ($19. Southwest Rapid Rewards. With elite status, you will earn the greatest number of miles, points and/or privileges. American Airlines Credit Cards. Lufthansa’s Miles and More program is one of the largest frequent flyer programs in Europe. Mileage Plan from Alaska Airlines. Annual fee: $149. This concept, of course, has gone much further now, with frequent flyer programs usually linked with entire alliances. The Executive Club is a frequent flyer program offered by British Airways. Elite status is a division of the awards programs that separates the frequent traveler from everyone else. This frequent flyer program allows members to earn 1 mile for every mile flown (or 500 miles per flight. El Salvador. Best frequent flyer programs of 2022. Hawaiian Airlines comes in second at $16. American has the largest frequent flyer program (115 million) and it won just a single category, losing to Aeroplan which has just 5 million members. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a. Miles & More is Europe’s largest frequent flyer program. Qantas is Australia’s largest airline and flag carrier with headquarters in Sydney. and Europe. 50 joining fee, although there are many ways to join for free. The potential cost of stolen points to the program’s operator is initially. Fact checked. S. Build your mileage balance with the MileagePlus X app. and Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth began performing. Today Consumer Reports released the results of one of the largest ever examinations of U. Star Alliance is a global network of airlines, and the worlds largest airline alliance. The principle which rewards. Here are five international frequent flier programs that might fit your needs, as well as the major advantages and drawbacks to consider as you weigh your options. Partner award rates on Delta Air Lines are excellent, whether you fly China Airlines or Korean Air in Asia, or use SkyMiles to fly Virgin Atlantic to the U. 00-$1. With the Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) Benchmark survey, you will gain a better understanding of your loyal customers’. Cooperation includes objectives such as seamless code share flights, sharing bonus points/miles and lounge access across all members of the alliance on frequent flyer programs and, as a new trend, an increased degree of co-location in. Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM. Frequent flyer programs will offer entry-level status as the bottom rung in a hierarchy of increasing prestige. Frequent Flyer is the official rewards program for Qantas Airways. The history of modern frequent flier programs started in 1970s and involved rapid evolution and. Overall, Velocity is a fantastic frequent flyer program to be earning points with and should not be overlooked considering its vast network of international airline. TrueBlue is also one of the most exciting programs globally. Airline loyalty programs (also called Frequent Flyer Programs) have become a new source of high margin income for traditional airline companies. With SkyTeam, if you’re enrolled in a frequent flyer program with one of its member airlines, you earn status that qualifies you for SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus. Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer program Velocity was established in 2005. What's happening: Airlines, including Delta, American and United, are raising. 20 per $100 spent. Chayapoj Lee-Anant. Shop now. Read more to find out why and how Virgin missed out. My go-to frequent flyer miles are with United Airlines, especially over Delta or American Airlines. As of December 2009, its membership rolls boasted more than 64 million members (AMR Corporation, 2009). Bahamas. Last updated: 2:21 PM ET, Thu April 1, 2021. "In general SkyMiles is the weakest major loyalty program. Frequent fliers with Alaska Airlines will find their rewards value at the highest, earning back $20. As the largest airline in the world, with a global network that spans 54 countries, our frequent flyer program must also be the best in the business. You have an unlimited number of transfers in any 12-month period, up to a maximum of 600,000 Qantas Points. Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to various perks. It cannot escape notice that the airlines with the largest and highest revenue producing FFPs are also those that belong to—or are the founding members of—large international network alliances. Meanwhile, loyalty programs also generate massive amount of data on customer behaviour as people spend and collect their points. 1. SkyMiles elite "Medallion" flyers earn miles at higher rates than ordinary passengers. S. However, the most fascinating aspect of the affordability numbers is the year-over-year change. Delta Air Lines will make “modifications” to its SkyMiles frequent flier program after receiving negative feedback from customers to changes it announced this month, the. You can collect miles on flights with SWISS, Star Alliance partners, and other airline partners. . Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. You can create co-branded credit cards with a card network like American Express. A frequent-flyer programme ( FFP) is a loyalty program offered by an airline. What the Department Was Looking For in Its InvestigationAlaska Airlines came in second, with $24. 14 per $100 spent. American Airlines' AAdvantage program is one of the oldest and largest frequent flyer programs worldwide. By revenue, American earned $45. A large AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR) shareholder, FL Group, urged the company to immediately consider strategic alternatives that could significantly increase shareholder value. Qantas’ frequent flyer programme is one of the most popular ones around. m. The. The rankings are based on three. . Southwest tweaks frequent-flyer. Redeeming miles is not the only way to enjoy Miles & More benefits: If you are in the air a lot, you can reach a special frequent flyer status that you keep for at least two years. Best Frequent Flyer Program: Alaska Mileage Plan is the best frequent flyer program of 2022, beating last year’s winner United MileagePlus. Travel reward programs. German loyalty program operator Loyalty Partner took a controlling interest in i-mint in June 2010 and renamed the program PAYBACK India in July 2011. Of survey respondents, 15. , Sep 3, 2019. AADVANTAGE (AMERICAN AIRLINES) 2. S. This paper discusses the important roles of frequent flyer programs (FFPs) in the airline industry with an emphasis on FFPs as a tool for airline business development, a. As the fifth-largest carrier in North America, Air Canada is a major player in the U. Supermarket loyalty programs. Qantas Frequent Flyer membership has a standard cost of $99. The 180 users denote 10 trillion outstanding miles (Webflyer, 2016). Signing up for Qantas Frequent Flyer membership usually costs a joining fee of $99. Top-tier 1K status required $10,000 of spending to go along with 100,000 miles of flying. When it comes to flight redemptions you'll get them faster with Velocity Frequent Flyer. You can create co-branded credit cards with a card network like American Express. As Australia’s biggest airline, Qantas offers eligible frequent flyers the largest number of Australian airport lounges – including separate Business Lounges open to Platinum-grade frequent flyers – plus the broadest domestic flight network, countless opportunities to earn points, and a variety of ways to spend them. Airline miles, also known as frequent flyer miles or travel points, are loyalty programs offered by airlines and credit cards. For the mathematically inclined among us, a formula that conveys the equation airlines face is as follows: Profit from FFP = (Revenue from selling points to partners & ticket sales to FFP members) – Cost of delivering FF rewards. ’s. SkyMiles is more than just a frequent flyer program, it is a loyalty program. The Largest Airlines in the World. 8% market share. Therefore, frequent flyer programs miles are only regarded as near-money instead of legal tender (Chan et al. Travel is not cheap. Best hotel rewards programs of 2023. frequent flyer program worth over $10 billion. These include NAB, American Express, Westpac and Citi. AAdvantage is the frequent flyer program of American Airlines. The next major frequent flyer program established is one that travelers today should still recognize (and which has become one of the largest in the world):. It is open to anyone age two (2) and above. +1 (800) 227-4220. airlines that run the largest frequent flyer programs have recently made their award cancellation policies much more flexible. The “top” frequent flyer programs vary from year to year but JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines often feature quite high. Locally, Qantas is by far the largest airline in Australia and Oceania, carrying around three times as many annual passengers as its nearest competitors. The airline offers a reliable business-class experience on. United raised $6. Membership is open to all ages, but those under 18 need. 4. One exception to that rule is United Airlines, which valued its MileagePlus loyalty program at nearly $22 billion in 2020 when it pledged the program as collateral on a debt deal to help weather the pandemic. This is where frequent flyer programs come in. Accor points are some of the most valuable (and straightforward) rewards. Every quarter, he will provide you with a summary of all the key news and first-hand information. AADVANTAGE (AMERICAN AIRLINES) 2. Airways that took place last year, that figure has now climbed to well over 100 million. Lufthansa has the largest frequent flyer program in Europe. I regularly check my balance. The No. You’re likely familiar with the term ‘loyalty program’. This is literally. Aug. The first alliance was developed in 1997 by five airlines looking to expand their route network.