it looks like SWISS will not join oneworld (yet) per april-1-2002.

SWISS is expected to announce even closer links with AA - the oneworld project fails to realize (now) because of BA's opposition.

BA considers SWISS with 129 planes to be too strong a competitor in Europe (also regarding possible EU monopoly restrictions regarding LHR).

****.

BA is starting to be a problem, isn't it? Let's see just how strong and coordinated is the alliance with AA.

How about another partner in Asia? Cathay does not even go to Beijing. Maybe like Emirates or something like that?

Re: Emirates joining an alliance - don't hold your breath. I was speaking to a friend who works on their marketing in Australia, and at this stage Emirates are quite happy to go it alone.
It's been said time and time again, but JAL is a logical addition to oneworld, and one that would strengthen the alliance enormously, both in Asia and world-wide.
We can only dream I suppose.

I doubt that it's BA that considers Swiss a problem ...

More likely it's the regulators focusing on slots at LHR again.

I beg to differ on the comment about Swiss joining OW. Confidentially the Swiss sales teams are already advising their corporate clients that the deal is done and will be announced this week.

Nick

Sonntag 24. M�rz 2002, 12:56 Uhr
Bouw: American Airlines "gute L�sung" f�r Swiss-Partnerschaft

Z�rich (Reuters) - "American Airlines k�nnte eine sehr gute L�sung f�r Swiss sein," sagte Swiss- Verwaltungsratspr�sident Pieter Bouw in einem Interview mit der "NZZ am Sonntag" zum m�glichen neuen Partner. Vor nicht allzu langer Zeit habe es bereits eine Allianz zwischen Swissair/Crossair und
Airlines (AA) gegeben, und das sei sehr effizient f�r beide Seiten gewesen.

AA sei die gr�sste Airline der Welt, aber es gebe zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch keine Vereinbarung �ber eine Partnerschaft, so Bouw weiter. Die bereits gemachten gemeinsamen Erfahrungen seien eine gute Grundlage, um miteinander zu sprechen und nach neuen Wegen im Marketing und in der Distribution zu suchen.

Die gr�ssten Schwierigkeiten f�r die neue Airline in den ersten Monaten sei die Zur�ckgewinnung des Vertrauens der �ffentlichkeit und die Einhaltung der gemachten Versprechen, so Bouw weiter. Auch d�rften sich die erreichten Kosteneinsparungen nicht wieder verfl�chtigen. Als dritte Herausforderung nannte Bouw die Zusammenf�hrung der Swissair- und der Crossair-Kultur. "Die Swiss hat nur ein Jahr zur Verf�gung, um eine gesunde Grundlage f�r die Zukunft zu schaffen," sagte der ehemalige Boss der niederl�ndischen Fluggesellschaft KLM.

Am kommenden Dienstag wird im Rahmen der Crossair-Bilanzmedienkonferenz von Swiss-CEO Andre Dose mit n�heren Details zum neuen Swiss-Partner gerechnet. Im Anschluss daran soll auch die detaillierte Pr�sentation der neuen Marke Swiss stattfinden.
=========================================
In English withhttp://translator.dictionary.com/text.html :

Sunday 24 March 2002, 12:56 o'clock Bouw: American airlines " good solution " for Swiss partnership Zurich (Reuters) - " American airlines could be a very good solution for Swiss, " said Swiss board of directors president Pieter Bouw in an interview with the " NZZ on Sunday " to the possible new partner. Before not too long time it already gave an alliance between Swissair/Crossair and airlines (AA), and that for both pages was very efficient. AA is the largest airline of the world, but it passes no declaration/agreement on over a partnership at the current point in time still, thus Bouw. The common experiences already made are a good basis, in order to speak together and look for new ways in marketing and in the distribution. The largest difficulties for the new airline in the first months recovering of the confidence of the public and the adherence to the made promises are, so Bouw further. Also the achieved cost savings might not evaporate again. As the third challenge Bouw called the unification of the Swissair and of the CROSS air culture. " the Swiss has only one year for order, in order to create a healthy basis for the future, " said the former Boss of the Netherlands airline KLM. on coming Tuesday in the context of the conference of CROSS air balance medium by Swiss CEO Andre box on closer details to the new Swiss partner is counted. Subsequently, also the detailed presentation of the new label Swiss is to take place.

It looks like Swiss is all but a done deal, but they won't become active members until 2003. No RTW's on Swiss metal this year!

I wonder if the Swiss/LX relationship with AA as far as FFPs goes will be like AS's relationship with AA.

Here's the form is may take (more of a AA-LX relationsship)

http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pag...id=FT36V37O8ZC

Let's hope for at least AA codeshares on SWISS trans-atlantic and European flights. The thought of going to the non-capitals of Europe via a connection at Zurich is a big plus for many (and BA's big worry). London is a pain for connections, especially since many 2nd tier flights are at Gatwick now.

Andre Dose just appeared on CNN International and discussed the selection of AA and "hopefully" OneWorld as the new "Swiss"'s partner. The official press-conference, he said, would take place within the hour. Sounds very encouraging.

It has been confirmed that Swiss will cooperate closely with AA and wants to become a full member of OW by the end of the year.
http://www.tages-anzeiger.ch/ta/taOn...l?ArtId=175068

Posted by Merry:

Sorry Merry, this point goes to Rudi! AA, YES! Oneworld, may be end of 2002.

[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 03-26-2002).]

Tonight's Swiss TV news pointed out that BA would be the stumbling block to SWISS's OW aspirations, and showed a graphic of how SWISS and BA compete in Europe.

Of course, the same could be said of BA/Iberia (but won't because of BA's shareholding in IB) or indeed BA/Finnair.

And of course there's the grotesque arrangement between BA and QANTAS (BA is a QF shareholder), which share a monopoly of direct flights between the UK and Australia.

So SWISS must be real competition for BA!