Oneworld connecting partner
 

Announced with Fiji Airways as the first participant. More details to follow, and I wonder who is next? Maybe an unaligned Chinese carrier or JetStar?

Oneworld news link

BA thread:= https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...l#post29822830

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Global Explorer and OneWorld Explorer *ONE* are not the same.
Here on FT *ONE* is of more interest and has the (buggy) planning tool
https://www.oneworld.com/flights/round-the-world-fares

Aer Lingus could easily be the next if IAG cares.

All the airlines participating in Global Explorer are possible additions

On Air Italy (Meridiana) I think Qatar CEO said he wanted it to become a full member.

I'd also think Vueling and Level (both IAG owned) are likely additions.

Right, of course. I didn't pay sufficient attention.

As stated elsewhere, e.g. in German language Aerotelegraph, only three recommeding airlines are necessary and benefits such as status miles or lounge access only apply to those.

I think this makes sense, since a common complaint of all alliances was that some hardly connected members doesn't make too much sense commercially. E.g. JAL joining was one of the reasons for EI to leave, because of significant adaptation cost and limited commercial benefits. I think this would even be worse in case of Fiji, which probably have QF, BA and ??? as a partner.

QF, CX, and AA were partners and BA was the 4th.

Thanks, skunker, much appreciated.

Apart from EI mentioned in my earlier post, I wonder if this could also open the door for Royal Air Moroc (AT), which has been rumoured for a while. Currently, they are a partner of QR and IB, so guess it should be possible to find a third supporter, e.g. BA. Yes another candidate for Connect is AirItaly (IG), sponsored by QR and possibly BA, IB or in this case also AY would make sense.

Aer Lingus and Air Italy would be my next big bet, followed by someone to fill the china/india void.Then OW could be shaping up to be a very solid alliance. Furthermore if IAG buys Norwegian and combines them with Vueling they could have an LCC going after Ryanair.

Given IG's ambitions to be a prominent carrier in Italy and Europe (or rather QR' ambition), I think it would rather pursue a full membership in Oneworld rather than being a Connecting partner or affiliate member.

Meanwhile I think EI will be best suited to be Oneworld Connect partner given it (or IAG) seems unwilling to pursue a full membership due to high costs. EI being a Connect partner would be beneficial to its global outreach and of course Oneworld while procedures for a full membership will not be needed to be carried out.

I truly hope that if Air Lingus joins they become a full member and not a connecting partner.

Vueling could become a connecting partner, that would more or less formalize the codeshare structures and mileage earning opportunities they currently already have with Iberia. They would just need extra sponsors. BA, AA?

yeah EI should be next. Also do not undermine Sichuan Airlines from China. A good chance been sponsored by BA, JL and UL. However, I can see airline like UL and RJ may wish to downgrade itself due to its size and financial situations.

Sichuan is 39% owned by China Southern and 10% by China Eastern, so would be more of a Skyteam candidate imho

I would love to see Air Tahiti Nui join Oneworld Connect, they already have codeshares with JL, AA, and QF, which exceeds their other codeshare partners in other alliances.

China Southern and China Eastern are not in very friendly terms. First, China Eastern is expanding in CAN (rapidly), China Southern's home turf. Second, China Eastern bought stakes in AF/KL, of which China Southern's best buddy KL is in. The full effects are unknown yet, but conflict of interests might develop. Third, two airlines will compete head to head in Beijing new airport very soon. Last, currently China Southern and its affiliate Xiamen are both in SkyTeam, there is no room for a fourth Chinese mainland airline, or the fifth from Greater China region in SkyTeam. If Sichuan is to join SkyTeam, I can see China Southern exit as an exchange.

So I think it is crucial to watch Sichuan Airlines. If it joins SkyTeam I think China Southern's days in SkyTeam is numbered. If it joins oneworld, it would not mean China Southern would not join too, but China Southern would be watching Sichuan for years before deciding on jumping the ship to see which one is better suited. That is my personal opinion so may not worth anything to any people. Pure speculation only.

3U and CZ are limited FF partners though, and given 3U is partially owned by CZ, I don't think CZ would mind as much. If CZ were to leave SkyTeam, whether or not 3U joins should not be a major factor in my opinion. In the event CZ leaves, I'd imagine MF to follow, too.

Semi related some interesting discussion on airliners.net forum about whether oneworld airlines (or which ones) might moving to Daxing (particularly those with close relationships with MU and CZ)

and also a last minute push by MU to retain some services at PEK, particularly SHA-PEK which is a big profit maker, given PEK is much closer to the main business districts and the richer Northern suburbs than Daxing

How about HU / Hainan Airlines?

hahahaha..... no.

Hainan is not getting into OW, especially not with CX in OW. The only reasonable circumstance in which they join is if they let go ownership of CX's main rival, HX.