Warner Music Signs First Aussie Star Alliance Contract

The Star Alliance this week announced that Warner Music Australia signed the first Star contract for a company located in that country. "Star Alliance was very keen to negotiate with us and we will make savings from day one," said Warner Music Australia CFO Mark Narborough.

Star expected more companies Down Under to sign alliancewide corporate travel agreements following a decision last year by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to permit such joint deals. Before the ruling, Australian corporate travel buyers were required to negotiate with individual Star Alliance carriers.

In announcing the ruling nearly one year ago, ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said Star's corporate travel and meetings programs "will increase the range of airfares available to corporate travelers and convention delegates, particularly for those travelers who would otherwise not have access to a discounted airfare."

Star Alliance currently has no Australian airline member, though several Star carriers operate routes to the country.