FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The airline alliance "Star Alliance" is completely giving up its administrative headquarters in Frankfurt after more than 20 years. The functions will be transferred to the headquarters in Singapore by the first quarter of next year, the company announced on Thursday upon request, confirming a report by the "AeroTelegraph" portal. It said it wanted to concentrate the functions in one place to improve processes. What will happen to the Frankfurt employees was not said. It is said to be less than ten people.

The alliance was founded in 1997 under the leadership of Lufthansa and currently has 26 members. It includes major airlines such as United, Air China, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines, which cooperate in various business segments. Among other things, they operate joint lounges at international hubs. The Star Alliance competes with other airline alliances such as SkyTeam and Oneworld. Deutsche Bahn is an intermodal partner of the Star Alliance.

In 2000, the alliance had opened its first business center at Frankfurt Airport. In 2021, the competence center for digital processes was transferred to Singapore. The Executive Board, headed by CEO Theo Panagiotoulias, who was appointed in June, also sits there./ceb/DP/stw