One World implodes
 

Sydney Morning Herald reports that AA "has said" it intended to quit OW. In today's report, Peter Harbison commented on the volatile situation for OW in an industry which is very promiscuous, with airlines jumping in and out of bed with each other to gain short-term advantage. Harbison states that AA is in discussion with the Qualiflyer Alliance. If AA joined Qualiflyer, then BA/QF might look to Continental as their new US partner. See www.smh.com.au
Despite the difficulties between AA & BA, I am not sure that either airline can afford to break their link, as the monSTAR has gone from strength to strength, since effectively linking with the Singapore Airlines quartet [SQ/VS/NZ/AN]. SQ has cleverly built in equity and management control that ensures those four stay together, no matter what happens to broader alliances. That grouping now spans the north and south pacific, and the atlantic. All SQ needs to complete its own "alliance" is an American equity partner.
Koala

[This message has been edited by Koala (edited 10-13-2000).]

That's very surprising. I always assumed (wrongly) that AA was very committed to OneWorld but of course business is business...

Has AA publicly said it will pull out of oneworld?

Direct link to the article:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0010/14/b...business9.html

What an electronic world. 2pm Saturday here, and still have not unrolled my "Sydney Morning Herald, and am reading this on FT before I even see it in the newspaper! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

Thanks for the link, Koala. I reposted it on CO; I'm sure the folks there wouldn't want to miss the bottom third of the story.

this is (or would be) very bad news for StarAlliance 'fans' too. The consumer needs strong competition!

Just another rumour which isn't going to happen...

Nick

The thought of a NW/CO/KLM/Qantas alliance is intriguing - given that their flight plans don't overlap that much, it _could_ be the start of a new alliance #?

Without AA in OW, they'll be in big trouble without any airlines covering North America. I think it's probably a premature rumour, i don't see any advantages for AA.

Empress, isn't CO a valid North American carrier/option? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif