Airline Partnerships: The A++ Joint Venture between Air Canada, Lufthansa Group, and United Airlines

The aviation industry has seen significant growth over the years, but it is also limited by finite resources such as airport slots and landing rights. With very few new runways or airports being built in major markets like Europe and North America, airlines are finding ways to expand their services through partnerships. One such partnership is the A++ joint venture (JV) between Air Canada, Lufthansa Group, and United Airlines, which covers a vast geographic network across the world.

The A++ JV was established in 2008 when the four airlines: Continental Airlines (now merged with United Airlines), Air Canada, Lufthansa, and United Airlines, filed an application with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a highly integrated JV. This was in response to rising fuel prices and economic softening, with the aim of providing more extensive and convenient services to customers while also strengthening competition.

The JV is based on Lufthansa and United Airlines’ ‘Atlantic Plus’ agreement and has five significant enhancements, including the inclusion of Air Canada and Continental Airlines, more integrated and structured capacity coordination, and an expanded “sales without preference” concept. The JV also allows for potential future expansion by including other Star Alliance partners.

In terms of network, the data from aviation analytics company Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool shows that in June, Air Canada and United Airlines have scheduled