Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian Airlines will begin offering oneworld services and benefits on April 1, 2007, the eight-year anniversary of the oneworld alliance launch in 1999.

Also, as part of the biggest expansion of the world's leading quality global airline alliance, five other members of the JAL Group will join oneworld on the same day, as affiliates - JALways, Japan Asia Airways, JAL Express, J-AIR and Japan Transocean Air.

Combined, some 20 million frequent flyers from these airlines will be able to earn and redeem mileage awards on all other oneworld airlines beginning April 1.

Members of the established oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programs, including the American Airlines AAdvantage program, will be able to earn and redeem awards and receive all other oneworld benefits on these newest members.

Welcome Aboard

"Adding Japan Airlines, Malév and Royal Jordanian represents oneworld's biggest expansion since the alliance was launched eight years ago today," said oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch. "We are very much looking forward to welcoming them and their customers on board April 1. Their addition will broaden our network coverage in three of the fastest growing regions for air travel and further strengthen oneworld's position as the world's leading quality airline alliance."

Japan Airlines (JAL) Group Chief Executive Haruka Nishimatsu said, "We are delighted to announce that JAL will become a member of oneworld on April 1. By joining hands with the alliance's nine other world-class airlines, we will be able to further strengthen the quality of our products and services, providing our customers with greater convenience, comfort, value and choice throughout the alliance's comprehensive global network. Our strong market presence in Japan and elsewhere in Asia will enable us to take a leading role in oneworld's strategy and significantly enhance the competitiveness of this leading quality global alliance."

Malév Chief Executive Janos Gonci said, "Following almost two intensive years of preparation for joining oneworld, my team and I are thrilled that the big day is almost upon us, and we can't wait to be a fully fledged member of the alliance. We are convinced that oneworld membership is a win-win-win for Malév, for oneworld and, most importantly, for all our customers the world over."

Royal Jordanian Chief Executive Samer Majali said, "Membership in oneworld will create extensive opportunities for Royal Jordanian that will enable our airline to offer our customers greater and smoother access to a substantially more diverse network of destinations, with the help of our excellent stable of partners. Through Royal Jordanian's own wide-ranging regional network, we will provide the other oneworld airlines with markedly increased reach in the fast growing Middle East."

More Airlines Joining oneworld Later in 2007

Three other airlines are also lining up to become part of oneworld in 2007 - Dragonair, LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador, all as affiliate members. Joining dates for these three airlines will be announced as soon as they have been determined.

Also, as previously announced, Aer Lingus will withdraw from oneworld effective April 1, with its focus on low fare point-to-point passengers no longer in line with oneworld's strategy of providing services for premium, multi-sector, frequent international travelers.

New oneworld Alliance at a Glance

These overall changes in membership will expand the size of the alliance substantially to:

Almost 700 airports, about 100 more than now
Nearly 150 countries
9,000 daily departures, which is 1,000 more than today
Around 315 million passengers, 65 million more than today
265,000 employees
Almost 2,500 aircraft
US $85 billion in revenues, up by one-third


Japan Airlines was the largest airline in the world not aligned to a multilateral global alliance until it lined up to join oneworld. It is the biggest airline in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the top airlines in the world on any count. On virtually every measure, it becomes one of the biggest three airlines in oneworld. With its five oneworld affiliates, Japan Airlines will add nearly 50 destinations to the alliance network - almost 40 of them in Japan, and the rest in China and elsewhere in Asia. JAL will bring one new territory onto the oneworld map - Guam. American Airlines is acting as its oneworld sponsor, supporting it in the alliance joining process.


Malév Hungarian Airlines is one of the highest quality carriers in Central and Eastern Europe. Its Budapest base provides oneworld with one of the best hubs in that region, which is one of the fastest growing worldwide for air travel. The airline's network will considerably expand oneworld's presence in that part of the world. Malév adds 10 cities to the oneworld network, all of them in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as one country, the Republic of Macedonia. Finnair is acting as its oneworld sponsor.



Royal Jordanian is the first airline from the Middle East to find a home with any of the global airline alliances. Its Amman base provides oneworld with one of the best hubs for travelling around the region - the world's fastest growing for air travel - where the airline's network is focused. Royal Jordanian adds 11 cities to the oneworld network, all of them in Middle East, and two countries - Iraq and Yemen. British Airways is acting as its oneworld sponsor.