South African Airways has joined Star Alliance.
I will post info as I receive it.

Air Portugal, South African Airways and Blue1 to join Star Alliance


SINGAPORE : TAP Air Portugal, South African Airways and Finland's Blue1 will join the Star Alliance network by 2005, increasing its membership to 19, the international airline partnership said.

The addition of TAP and South African Airways will extend the world's biggest airline network to Latin America and Africa, executives from the group's members, including Singapore Airlines, said in a press conference here Saturday.

"When TAP becomes a full member of Star Alliance in 2005, this will vastly enhance our alliance's network especially between Latin America and Europe," VARIG Brazilian Airlines' chief executive officer Luiz Martins said.

"At VARIG, we view this as a very important step to enhance the standing of Alliance in Latin America."

South African Airways, the group's first African member, is an important addition because of the country's increasing importance as a business hub, Lufthansa's chief executive officer Wolfgang Mayrhuber said.

He said South Africa in the last 10 years has been transformed "in an admirable way".

"It's a very colourful country, a very diverse country and it's not only a place to go as a tourist. It's also a place to go as an investor."

Blue1 will be Star Alliance's first regional member, a newly created position that is open to airlines that receive sponsorship from a full member of the network before applying for membership.

Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1's parent company, acted as sponsor for the Finnish carrier, which will offer the same perks as full members, such as lounge access and frequent flyer benefits.

Star Alliance consisted originally of carriers from Europe, North and South America and Asia Pacific, such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, US Airways and Air New Zealand.

The addition of the three new members to the team will increase its market share to 28.8 percent in terms of revenue per kilometer, Star Alliance's chief executive officer Jaan Albrecht said.

The alliance is also hoping for airlines from the Indian subcontinent, China and Russia to join the network, chairman of United Airlines Glenn F. Tilton said.

Chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines Chew Choon Seng said the alliance was "engaging with major Chinese carriers", but did not say how close they were to accepting any new members.

- AFP

I have heard, that SAA will drop the Atlanta Flights, and move to Washington's Dullas airport next year. Any news to that?

I was not that familiar with the Star Alliance and this their site. Star Alliance