End of 2010: How can OneWorld's network improve?
 

Hey all. I'm curious to know people's thoughts: where do you feel OW has a gap in their service (country or region) and how do you think they can go about improving it?

Question 2: what airline should OW pursue next to become the next affiliate / full member*?
* (preferably not a well established affiliate with extensive code sharing as it is).

1. China - Hainan seems to be the last pick; get them in and then make them set up a hub in PEK and/or PVG
2. South America - retain LA, or there will be a huge gap
3. Africa ? - although I'm not sure it's so necessary; maybe AA could start serving Western Africa
4. Central Europe - finally!

A direct link between Africa and the Americas - North or South would be good. No real African airline option out there - so need AA or LA to come in.
Obvious other gap is China

I was thinking about Africa in general myself, but where particularly in West Africa are you thinking?

I think the fact that Comair operates on behalf of British Airways out of Johannesburg has the South covered. Sure, the network isn't as extensive as South African Airways, but it does cover the bigger cities down there. And North Africa is somewhat well with connections from IB, BA, and AB.

Maybe OW can try to open up Taiwan domestic routes, as well as adding KHH as one location. This can be done by inviting BR to join. BR's affinate can reach a brand new location - MFM (Macau)
Also, to improve connectivity in China, OW can try to persuade CX to hold more sharing of CA -> CA switch to Oneworld under the influence of CX's shareholder power.

I agree retaining LAN is one of the top priorities. Other than that OW needs to

- Improve SE Asia coverage.
- Improve N. America coverage. Although there's an improvement on the West Coast with AA's enhanced focus on LAX, AA still can't cover N. America on its own.

Unfortunatley AB tends to operates many of these routes to tourist destinations and some as seasonal or infrequent (1 or 2 times per week) which is not good for business.

BA also operates some of these flights out of LGW and not LHR, so transit traffic is not possible with these, plus their routes are not very extensive in this region.

1. Retain LAN (and hence bring in TAM) in South America - although that would keep out Gol...
2. JetBlue or WestJet in North America
3. The rumours about Gulf Air would make an interesting addition in the Middle East
4. Bring Aer Lingus back
5. Stop Qantas converting flights to Jetstar and hence out of OW
6. Do something in Asia. By the end of 2012 when the dust has settled, OW will have 3 carriers compared to 6 for ST (or 7 if China Eastern retains Shanghai Airlines as a separate brand) and 6 for *A. That leaves Malaysia (perennially rumoured for ST), Jet (again, rumoured for ST), Hainan (does CX want another OW hub so close to HKG?), Eva Air and Philippine Airlines.

Very difficult to find OW connections betwen Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillipines, Thailand. A strong region for Star Alliance.

You know what they say about having your cake...

Why not "and/or"?

Sorry I'm trying to count.

OW (3): CX, JL, __?
ST (6/7): CZ, KE, VN (future CI, MU/FM, GA)
*A (6): CA, NH, OZ, SQ, TG, __?

Are you counting IT and AI? Though India is an important market, it seems too far away from East and Southeast Asia to be lumped in with the above carriers, no?

Agreed that Hainan's current hub is too close to HKG, but it's on the mainland; see my comments above.

If LAN-TAM goes to *A, Gol might be an option for OW. But they may stay non-aligned or opt for ST, with their DL codeshares and AR joining ST.

Sure, why not.

Yes, was counting India as geographically part of Asia. Excluding them makes the numbers look even worse for OW.

Probably counting KA as a separate brand in Asia too?

If you'r adding JetBlue and Aer Lingus - both lower cost airlines although not total LCCs, why not add Jetstar as well. Given neither are 'premium' carriers may need the addition of a second oneworld tier but would add to the network

Because Jetstar IS a LCC! Paying OW membership fee will increase its cost base so they probably don't want to join

Quoting from Wikipedia
JetBlue
"JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline"
"JetBlue started by following Southwest's approach of offering low-cost travel, but sought to distinguish itself by its amenities, such as in-flight entertainment, TV on every seat and Satellite radio. In Neeleman's words, JetBlue looks "to bring humanity back to air travel."

Compared to Tiger, with *Class, ability to rent video units/ipads, limited interlining, ability to earn QF points on some fares, I would put Jetstar in a similar class.

Aerlingus
Aer Lingus withdrew from the Oneworld airline alliance on 31 March 2007, explained to be due to Aer Lingus' repositioning as a low-cost carrier