BA (finnally) agrees: SWISS joining oneworld
 

todays (August-25-2002) SonntagsZeitung (Zürich based, a resaonabe reliable newspaper source) reports that BA and SWISS (supported by AA) finally agreed on terms on which SWISS could join oneworld.

SWISS expects Brussel to decide on the competition issue in September2002 (but only after Brussel will have decided about the Iberia-BA 'case').

'Adaptions' of the SWISS ff-program (Qualiflyer) are already 'in study'.

The membership should start in early 2003 (SWISS hopes for jan-1-2003).

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 08-25-2002).]

I have crossposted this also in the Qualflyer forum.

May be discussions about the future of the Qualiflyer-program are best posted there (Qualiflyer Forum), general effects (on other ff-oneworld-programs and ff-oneworld-tactics) on oneworld may be better posted here in the oneworld forum?

Sounds good http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif . I'm very keen to see the (final) press releases by Swiss and BA.

Good news! Thank you, Rudi.

I've also crossposted this article from Reuters in the Qualiflyer forum...

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airOli, the Swiss Air Line. ;)

I am sure the Swiss papers may have said that. However as the last year or two have shown the Swiss papers tell incredible lies when it comes to SR and Swiss. None of the other papers or news services that have written about this have made OneWorld sound "so close" so I would tend to doubt it at this time. BA has no reason to let Swiss into OneWorld, they can steal their pax with the deal that they have just signed. Obviously Swiss is hopeful that this step will bring them closer.

In short this article is written for a local audience, the same ones who were so assurred that SR was such a "strong" airline by their local papers!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif the Sonntagszeitung (owned by the Tagesanzeiger) was in fact (the only newspaper in Switzerland) heavily criticizing/questioning Swissair (and also on the side of the only banking analyst from the Credit Swiss Groupe who came to very negativ conclusions about the no-future of Swissair 2 years ago, that banking analyst then lost his job after Swissair intervened with CS' CEO Mühlemann who was a Swiss board member too ...) and their management for years (Partially may be, because Swissair was headed from 1999 to 2001 by President of the board Honegger who also was, at the same time, President of the largest competing newspaper 'Neue Zürcher Zeitung').

Any oldtimer on FlyerTalk knows that I, for over 8 years now, didn't fly Swissair at all on paid tickets (only awards from my credit-card miles) - for very personal (family related) reasons.

May I be so intrusive as to ask if that extends to what was Crossair and now is SWISS? (I am aware of your reasons as stated elsewhere.)



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airOli, the Swiss Air Line. ;)

May I be so intrusive as to ask if that extends to what was Crossair and now is SWISS?

may be it is now just a/my 'function' of getting/being old and not changing old-'hate'-patterns anymore ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Yes we are all aware of your family history with SR. That being said it is NOT just a shot at you, but all those who are instantly saying that this is a done deal. We're talking about an airline which brings to the table the "best" of Swissair Group AND the "best" of Eastern Airlines. Not a very good combination.

I do restate again however that nowhere in the press outside of Switzerland does is it so optimistic that Swiss will soon be a member of OneWorld in the near of midterm future.

That being said it is NOT just a shot at you

well, I am glad I always wear my bulletproof jacket ... do I interprete english: 'not just ... at you' meaning also 'at you too and others' ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Am I hit? Am I hit? Arghhhh... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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airOli, the Swiss Air Line. ;)

Contrary to the prevailing idea that BA has no interest in Swiss joining the alliance, I think BA has a number of holes ot fill in the European network. Swiss could be very helpful attracting German-speaking clientele from the Austrian/German/Swiss market whose only other option is the current LH/OS monopoly. BA has only one major hub in Europe.
There are synergies to be one also for BA when clients choose LX over OS/LH for e.g. their Vienna to Geneva trip. Almost everyone I know in Austria and Germany is a member of *A for the single reason that on their home routes there is no alternative to OS/LH. If Swiss were there to compete, the same clients flying Swiss from Stuttgart to Geneva instead of LH would then fly BA to Asia and the US.

Long story short, I reckon Swiss should be to BA what OS is to LH. A feeder.

Unfortunately Swiss just ordered 13 (if I remember correctly) longhaul Airbus, which kind of contradicts the reposition necessary to join oneworld.