Avianca Brasil's Boeing 787-8. Photo credit: Maximilian Schulz

Brazilian airline Ocean Air Linhas Aéreas S/A, headquartered in São Paulo and formerly doing business as Avianca Brasil, will formally leave Star Alliance with effect from 1 September 2019.

Ocean Air’s withdrawal follows several months of bankruptcy protection and the withdrawal of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Brazilian regulator ANAC.

The Star Alliance network maintains a significant and long-time presence in the Brazilian market continuously since its founding in 1997. As of 1 September 2019, the Alliance will number 27 member airlines.

Avianca Brasil initially joined Star Alliance in 2015, and made important contributions to Star Alliance's customer proposition in the Brazilian market. The exit of Avianca Brasil will not affect the membership of Avianca S.A., based in Bogota, Colombia.

Currently, 11 Star Alliance member airlines offer direct services to and from Brazil, including Air Canada, Avianca, Air China, Copa Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United.

Together, Star Alliance member airlines operate 588 weekly flights from 11 domestic points in Brazil to 17 Star Alliance hubs, offering connections to a further 738 international destinations.