Does Delta belong to Star Alliance?

Star Alliance is a global airline network that has 26 members and covers extensive networks of 195 airlines. Since the topic includes so many airlines, the question arises as to whether or not Delta Airlines is associated with the Star Alliance network. The short answer to the question is negative – Delta Airlines is not a member of the Star Alliance.

Delta's Alliance Membership

Anyway, Delta Airlines belongs to SkyTeam, which is another major global airline alliance and which is a competitor to Star Alliance. SkyTeam has 19 members and has a connection with international flights to over 170 countries.

It is therefore while Delta cooperates with other members of SkyTeam in the same manner as Air France or KLM, it does not have similar relationships and access to the members of the rival Star Alliance like United Airlines, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines.

Star Alliance Membership Benefits

Some of the advantages that member airlines of the Star Alliance network have include; The ability to provide some form of privileges and recognition to the frequent flyer members of one airline while they are traveling on another member airline of the Star Alliance. This entails priority services, lounge access, check-in, free mileage accruals, and excess baggage allowance among others.

For instance, a US-based United Airlines frequent flyer member would be able to access lounges and accumulate points on a Lufthansa, Thai Airways, or some other airline that is a Star Alliance member. However, they could not enjoy those elite benefits where were they to be flying in a Delta Airlines plane since Delta is not a member of the Star Alliance.

In the same vein, clients on Delta’s SkyMiles program get to enjoy elite status and privileges when they travel with SkyTeam members but not so with the Star Alliance airlines.

Partnership Implications

Another disadvantage of not being in the Star Alliance is that Delta has to restrict the joint ventures and partnerships it can undertake. It seems that Delta has a transatlantic joint venture with AF-KLM and Alitalia which are SkyTeam members instead of being in a joint venture with Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa. They can also manage schedules, fares, and other activities in a compatible manner across the North Atlantic routes.

If Delta was with the Star Alliance probably, it would have seen a greater route network partnership with other Star Alliance airlines across the Atlantic.

Nevertheless, Delta does codeshare with some airlines of the Star Alliance on specific routes and it also has other connections, but this will never be as comprehensive as when there is a global alliance. However, establishing the possibility, Delta and specific Star Alliance airlines can collaborate in some scenarios despite their membership in different alliances.

Why They Are Not Consolidated?

Considering all the advantages that could be potentially received by having one mega-global airline alliance, one must wonder why the Star Alliance and the SkyTeam still exist as two distinct entities. Still, the combining of all the major airlines into one grading alliance would make for an unbeatable international system.

This would also mean less competition between alliances within the market, less incentive to innovate, and a general increase in the risk of monopolistic price control. Although such consolidation would be of great concern to antitrust regulators, it has the potential to decrease consumer options.

Keeping Delta and Star Alliance separate as two separate alliances permit Delta and members of the Star Alliance to market and bid for customers whilst each of them is allowed to have individual beneficial partnerships. This competition is instrumental in ensuring that there is healthy competition and the provision of affordable prices and services for the consumers whose needs are the flyers.

Two relatively small global networks also mean that more flexibility is possible – an airline can leave an alliance in a rather seamless manner without affecting the overall architecture of the airline partnership network on a global scale.

Can Delta Become the Part of Star Alliance in the Future?

Even though Delta seems to be committed and loyal to SkyTeam, is it conceivable to imagine that in the distant future, it can throw in the towel and switch from SkyTeam to Star Alliance?

In a simple yes and no: Yes, airlines have changed their alliance with other airlines in the past, even though it is not a frequent occurrence. For instance, Swiss International Airlines and Brussels Airlines initially moved from the Star Alliance to the Sky Team in the years 2006 and 2009 respectively to switch back to the Star Alliance in the year 2017.

Consequently, Delta theoretically can produce a similar shift if it deems the move valuable on a strategic level. Nonetheless, based on the fact that Delta has maintained a partnership with SkyTeam for years, the fact that they have a major transatlantic JV with existing partners in SkyTeam, and the general inconvenience that switching alliances would entail, it is unlikely that Delta will ever join the Star Alliance, at least for now.

The Alliance Outlook Going Forward

At present, belonging to one of the major global airline alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, or Oneworld remains the key strategic imperative for virtually all full-service network airlines. These alliances are going to become even more important in the future after the pandemic since airline networks will be reconstructed through partnerships.

So we can expect Delta to remain in the process of integrating with other existing SkyTeam member airlines and on the other hand United, Lufthansa, and other top Star Alliance flyers also continue to partner through their alliance system. This protects competition between alliance groups as well as allows flyers the opportunity to access the largest route connection networks globally.

Therefore, even as Delta Air Lines has established its niche as one of the premier airlines in North America and has codeshares or joint ventures with numerous airlines across the world, Delta Air Lines continues to be loyal to SkyTeam instead of switching to its competitor, Star Alliance network. Due to Delta’s membership to SkyTeam, it can engage in partnership with key players in a manner that would not be possible if Delta belonged to the rivals’ camp in Star Alliance.

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