German train operator Deutsche Bahn is to become the first non-airline partner of the Star Alliance group of carriers.
The rail company will become the first “intermodal” partner of the alliance from 1 August, as part of a move designed to boost sustainable travel options.
The new arrangement will see both DB customers and passengers of Star Alliance member airlines, which include Lufthansa, combining international flights with train travel in Germany.
The alliance said this initiative would “intelligently connect air, rail and other modes of transport” and it planned to forge more intermodal partnerships with other ground transport providers around the world.
Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance, said it was “opening the doors of Star Alliance beyond the airline world” through DB’s membership.
“Our new model for intermodal partnerships creates the conditions for co-ordinated co-operation between different modes of transport in all Star Alliance markets,” added Goh.
“We are delighted to welcome Deutsche Bahn as our first Star Alliance intermodal partner.”
DB already works on intermodal partnerships with individual airlines, such as the Lufthansa Express Rail service, which was extended to more German cities last year and has seen bookings double since 2010.
Michael Peterson, DB’s board member for long-distance passenger transport, said: “From Freiburg to Singapore, you only need one ticket for that. With attractive inner-German connections and simultaneous links to international travel chains, Deutsche Bahn and Star Alliance make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector.”
“This is how we get more people off the plane and onto the environmentally friendly rail. In close co-operation with the airlines, we are now tackling the mobility turnaround. We can network our offers in such a way that we can optimally use the respective strengths of our modes of transport.”