Greece’s Aegean Airlines is set to become the newest member of the Star Alliance with full membership by 2010. The airline currently serves 17 Greek and 17 international destinations such as Rome, London, Cairo, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona and is the largest airline in Greece by passenger numbers. Aviation Week reports that the Star Alliance has plans to increase airline membership to as many as 50 carriers, up from the current 21. Copa is moving over from SkyTeam to Star Alliance in October to follow Continental and continue the two airlines’ close relationship and Taca in Central America is also set to join Star Alliance. According to Aviation Week, Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht says that he believes that there will continue to be three alliances, even if the proposed American Airlines/British Airways joint venture does not get regulatory approval. But in his view, there could be more movement of carriers between the alliances and even a fourth group emerging.

Russia’s S7 Airlines is set to become a full member of the oneworld alliance during 2010. S7 serves 72 destinations worldwide with 38 in Russia and it will add eight countries to the oneworld roster: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As of June 1, 2009, the airline was added to the Global Explorer round-the-world fare.