British Airways is to welcome airberlin to oneworld in March, as part of its plans to strengthen its network in Germany, and throughout south and central Europe.

British Airways is sponsoring airberlin’s membership of oneworld, and has just completed a thorough review of airberlin’s processes and procedures. airberlin joins oneworld alongside Austrian airline NIKI, a member of the airberlin group, who together form Europe’s sixth largest carrier.

Joining oneworld will significantly strengthen the carrier’s network both in Europe and around the world. It also precedes the opening of Brandenburg Airport in Berlin in three months time, when airberlin, British Airways and all other oneworld carriers operating to the city will co-locate in the same terminal, sharing lounges and other facilities. oneworld passengers connecting through the city will benefit from an altogether smoother transfer experience.

The entry of airberlin will add 70 destinations to the oneworld network, including 18 within Germany, and will make regional markets in Europe easier to reach than ever before. airberlin’s routes will be available through oneworld’s full and extensive range of alliance fares and sales products.

British Airways customers are already benefiting from links with airberlin, as the airline signed a codeshare agreement last June on more than 40 routes around Europe.

British Airways, Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

British Airways is to welcome leading Indian airline Kingfisher in to oneworld in February 2012, as part of its plans to strengthen its Asian network.

British Airways is sponsoring Kingfisher’s membership of oneworld, and has just completed a thorough review of Kingfisher’s processes and procedures. Kingfisher will be the first airline from the Indian subcontinent to join an airline alliance.

British Airways has a long and vibrant history of flying to and from India, and last year began codesharing with Kingfisher on routes around the continent. Joining oneworld will significantly strengthen the carrier’s network both in its home market and around the world.

The entry of Kingfisher will also add 40 Indian destinations to the oneworld network, and will make one of the world’s most important emerging markets easier to reach than ever before. Kingfisher’s Indian destinations will be available through oneworld’s full and extensive range of alliance fares and sales products.

British Airways Executive Club and Kingfisher King Club members are already benefiting from sharing miles and tier points between airlines, while Kingfisher’s accession in February will give its Sapphire and Emerald-level King Club members access to over 550 oneworld lounges around the world.

British Airways, December 19, 2011

Global Traveler magazine names oneworld best airline alliance for second year in a row

American business travel magazine Global Traveler has named oneworld the best airline alliance of 2011. The honour was granted to oneworld for the second year in a row on the basis of reader research.

oneworld is also current holder of the World Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Airline Alliance title, retaining that award for the eighth year running.

"One of Finnair’s success factors is quality," says Paavo Virkkunen, responsible for alliance relations at Finnair. "Being in oneworld gives us a global signature of the highest quality and we are proud to be a member."

In addition to Finnair, oneworld’s members are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7. Kingfisher, airberlin and Malaysia Airlines will join in 2012.

Finnair press release 1/12/2011

Readers of Global Traveler, the leading US travelers’ magazine, have chosen oneworld as the world’s best airline alliance. The honour of Best Airline Alliance is decided on the basis of reader research.

oneworld has won three best alliance awards this year. In addition to the Global Traveler award, it picked up the World’s Leading Airline Alliance accolade at the 2010 World Travel Awards for the eighth consecutive time last month. oneworld was also voted the world’s best alliance in the Skytrax customer survey in May.

"oneworld gives Finnair the best possible quality signature globally,” says Paavo Virkkunen, responsible for alliance relations at Finnair. “At the same time, Finnair has brought confidence in quality by means of its four-star Skytrax rating.”

In addition to Finnair, oneworld’s members are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7, as well as about 20 subsidiaries. Kingfisher of India will join the alliance in 2011.

Finnair Plc Communications 23.12.2010