Additions
VARIG joined the Star Alliance network on 22 October 1997, extending the alliance into South America. Also joining were Ansett Australiaand Air New Zealand, expanding Star Alliance to Australia and the Pacific. With the addition of the latter two carriers, the alliance served 720 destinations in 110 countries with a combined fleet of 1,650 aircraft. The next airline to join was All Nippon Airways (ANA), the group's second Asian airline, on 15 October 1999.