Just one of many stories that CNBC ran with.........Which for the record, I don’t have a problem with. CNBC was just reporting information from another source and referencing it accordingly. My point was that there has been no official announcement, so until then I remain hopeful and skeptical. Cheers….



Japan Airlines Agrees to Tie-up With Delta Air: Report...

Japan Airlines (JAL) has agreed on a tie-up with Delta Air Lines [DAL 11.30 --- UNCH (0) ]that will mean JAL joins the SkyTeam airline alliance, dropping its membership of the Oneworld alliance, a Japanese newspaper said on Saturday.....

http://www.cnbc.com/id/34849881

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...up-buy-mu.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...ny-news-2.html

Note the date of that article:This article is far more recent: JAL to stay with American, end Delta talks: source

It might help to remind readers that the links are from discussion in September 2007.

JAL apparently is planning to stick around in OW with AA.

Japan Air Said to Keep American Ties, Shun Delta Bid

And for any doubters, here's the official press release statement from JAL:

http://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/201002/001457.html

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

After S7 covering Russia, the remaining priorities from my (biased) point of view:

1) China!

Some solution has to be found for the Middle Kingdom.

2) India

Less urgent but domestic and regional OW connections would be beneficial.

3) Air Berlin

It's a quality airline and could take over a lot of longhaul feeder routes in Europe plus provide much needed hubs in Central Europe.

I agree 100%. Air Berlin should be a high priority for OW. They are the best chance to have a central europe presence since BA lost LX to the evil alliance.

Seconded! Air Berlin also has a trans-Atlantic network that compliments oneWorld very well with its Los Angeles, Miami and New York service.

They also fly to Bangkok where they could connect with QF, JL and CX (though they can do that in FRA as well).
AB also codeshares with S7, so once S7 joins...;)

From the description of Air Berlin, it appears more between LCC and full service, although does through connections which no LCCs do.

Maybe a 2nd tier of less than full service airlines could be added (inc Jetstar) although they would need to solve their aversity to point to point itins

Air Berlin co-operates also with Hainan airlines, a codeshare partner of Malev. Hainan airlines market itself as the only four-star airlines in China (Skytrax rating). Anyone flown with them? Would they be the solution in Mainland China?

Air Berlin's inflight service on short-haul economy is better than that of BA. Ok, wine is not free but they serve sandwiches. And you can order other meals for payment.

In some thread it was mentioned that the CEO of AA hinted that there could be some interesting Oneworld (?) news from South America (GOL?) and India (Kingfisher or Jet or both ?).

Me in post 33 of this thread - unfortunately in that earnings call he didn't mention any specific airlines.

My wish list (pure wishes) of new OW members would include:

- Another carrier in Latin America (Gol?) to give more coverage of Brazil
- Air Berlin to give some decent central Europe coverage
- Jet or Kingfisher in India
- Hainan for some hubs in China
- Malaysian (supposedly they've been looking at SkyTeam, what a way to get back at them for JAL by bringing them into OW)
- an African carrier although I wouldn't know which one

:o Sorry that I didn't check. The speculation with the names of the airlines was my own.