How about Malaysia Airlines? 5-star airline, Southeast Asia hub, connections to several OW hubs and focus cities (SYD, HKG, LHR, LAX, JFK, EZE), and they will add numerous destinations not covered by OW.

route map: http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/getd...Timetable.aspx

I thought MH was looking at ScaryTeam.....

Dave

MH - No chance imho -- BA, QF and CX would boycott due to more competition on the Kangaroo route

and JQ is already flying to KUL

AS is unlikely to join, since it has alliances with much of Skyteam, including AF*, KL*, DL*, CO, and NW* (asterisks indicate EQM partners). As far as OW goes, AS is already partnered with AA*, BA, LA*, QF, and CX. Most of the Mileage Plan members like it this way, since it allows us to collect miles from both OW and ST carriers, and it's a popular airline for people to use as a "second" account in the States because it can catch miles from a lot of different airlines.

Royal Air Maroc
 

What do you think of Royal Air Maroc? It cover quite well western Africa.

Vietnam Airlines
 

Remember that QF codeshares with VN between Melbourne/Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City

Query how long the VN codeshare will last given
1. JQi flies to SGN
2. QF's 18% interest in BL (soon to be Jetstar Pacific)

[QUOTE
Whilst CX has a good relationship with VN, my bet is that VN will go down the ST path rather than run into the arms of OW.[/QUOTE]

VN is indeed headed for SkyTeam. They are in the process of selecting a new resevation system from Amadeus, Sabre, or another vendor and SkyTeam compliance is a key evluation criteria.

JAL to Enhance Ties with Vietnam Airlines
 

But JAL is desperately recruiting VN, I'm sure that has affected which alliance VN is joining.

Tokyo, Apr 14, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Japan Airlines <9205> is set to strengthen its ties with Vietnam Airlines as part of efforts to reinforce the Oneworld global airline network, which has no Southeast Asian member, Jiji Press learned Monday.....

http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=17700

I still think that 9W has to be on the cards at some point. There really does need to be a strong presence in India given the rate at which air travel is growing over there.

FD

At some point for sure, but AY, BA and CX (not sure about AA and QF) are all providing connections to major Indian cities. Maybe some time is needed to check safety and other standards for Indian domestic flights.

Now, in Russia you have vast areas where no OW airline is flying at all. The only China - Russia OW connection for example is the CX codeshare flown on Aeroloft metal.

I'd put Russia first.

Interesting comment from the CX CEO Tony Tyler

"Being a founder member of the oneworld, are you looking at an Indian membership?
Cathay Pacific would welcome the membership of a oneworld partner in India. "

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/20...nworld05.shtml

--

Re VN.
BL is now known as Jetstar Pacific
http://www.jetstar.com/ve/index.html

9W: step in the wrong direction?
 

UA now announcing closer partnership with Jet Airways. Doesn't this usually signal an eventual move to *A? (TAM, Turkish, Swiss, South African, etc.)

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080519/aqm516.html?.v=8

Maybe 9W wants to make airline pacts with as many airlines as possible before signing up for an alliance.

oneworld eyeing Indian carriers as partners
 

This might interest re. oneworld's Indian plans:

http://www.business-standard.com/com...N&autono=38948