AUSTRIAN AIRLINES JOINS UNITED, STAR ALLIANCE

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES JOINS UNITED, STAR ALLIANCE    The U.S. government cleared an alliance between Austrian Airlines and United Airlines, clearing the way for Austrian to join the Star Alliance of carriers, anchored by United and Lufthansa German Airlines.
   Initially, the Austrian-United alliance will focus on passenger services. The deal marks another expansion of Star, clearly now the world’s largest airline grouping.
   The Austrian Airlines Group — including Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways — joins Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Ansett Australia, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways International, United and Brazil’s Varig as Star members.
   Singapore Airlines will join in April, Mexicana in July, and British Midland in the third quarter.