Originally Posted by
aaupgrade
Not spin really. If you Google low-cost carriers in Europe it comes up as number 3 LCC consistently behind Ryan air and Easy Jet.
Now the statement that OW is the first... well *A has US, but then again US morphed into a LCC over the last few years; so much so that their ticker symbol is LCC.
Well, at worst I would consider Air Berlin a semi-low cost carrier (they have Business class, a frequent flyer prog., etc), and there are a
few of those in a few alliances already!
If Air Berlin are a low-cost carrier, then most def. so are bmi and they have been in *A for a long, long time!
So, either way, the characterisation '1st low cost carrier to join an alliance' is an odd statement!
ADD [From OW Press Release]
"While it [Air Berlin] has been named the World's Best Low-Cost Airline seven years running in the World Airline Awards run by the Skytrax airline quality organisation, it now offers the full-range of services associated with a full-service network carrier, including its frequent flyer programme topbonus, and, for premium passengers, lounges, priority check-in and, for all passengers, free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and meals or snacks on every departure".
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