(Sorry if I missed this in an earlier post)

Oneworld announces new initiatives


Chief executives of the oneworld carriers gathered this week in Hong Kong to announce a series of key new initiatives to accelerate and deepen the levels of co-operation between members.

The new moves include the introduction of more codesharing, new flights between oneworld hubs and a major new cost-saving initiative to build on the benefits already predicted this year for the eight member airlines: Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas.

The developments, announced at a press conference yesterday (Wednesday), followed the latest meeting of the alliance's Governing Board.

The new steps include:


A major extension of alliance activity in cost-savings, which for the first time extends to cargo, engineering and maintenance, insurance, flight operations training and revenue accounting, where significant savings are expected to be achieved on the US$10 billion accounted for in these areas by the eight carriers.

Three new types of ticket, with another three to follow in the next few months.

New flights between oneworld hubs, improving connections between member airlines' networks and making travel smoother and more convenient across the alliance's 571-destination map.

A significant expansion of code-sharing between the alliance's members.

The launch of e-ticket interlining, making it simpler for passengers to transfer between oneworld carriers using the latest forms of travel ticketing.

What could be the biggest corporate sales contract won by any of the global airline alliances with a leading US-based IT multinational, for its global air travel needs, worth US$40 million a year.

An expansion of oneworld's lead as the most international of the global airline alliances, with its network serving 135 territories and countries 11 more than its nearest rival.


Benefits
Oneworld's eight airlines already expect to benefit by a substantial sum this year from the various relationships between them through revenue generation and feed, and savings from joint purchasing and shared airport and city facilities.

Michael Jackson, BA's Head of Alliances and Franchises, said: "All the members are committed to developing the alliance further for the benefit of both customers and the airlines. With eight high quality members we serve more countries than any other alliance."

Oneworld's rival the Star Alliance this year plans to add three new members to its network. Asiana Airlines, Spanair and LOT Polish Airlines will join within the next 12 months, Star announced at its Chief Executive Board meeting last weekend in Shanghai. Once the new carriers are fully integrated, Star will have 17 airline members and says it has no plans to slow growth.