Air Transport

South African Airways (SAA) last week became the 18th – and first African – member of the Star Alliance. The alliance says it aims to add two members from China this year. Swiss International Airlines also joined Star earlier this month. Star chief executive Jaan Albrecht says the alliance is talking to Air China, China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines and that an announcement is due in a few weeks. “Our strategy is to pursue two carriers because of the size of the market,” Albrecht says.