aword from oneworld: July 2006

13 de julio de 2006

Two more destinations line up to join oneworld network: Two new destinations are being lined up to join the network served oneworldTM  member airlines, in Europe and the USA.

The former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia will be added to the alliance's map in April, when Finnair launches flights to its capital Ljubljana from its Helsinki home with an intial four Embraer 170s a week.

Alexandria will be the sixth city in the US state of Louisiana to be brought on-line to oneworld, when affiliate American Eagle launches non-stops to and from its home base Dallas/Fort Worth from 14 December, with an initial three daily round-trips, using 34-seat Saab 340 turboprops.

They will take the network served by the alliance's existing eight carriers to 604 worldwide in 135 countries. With the addition of oneworld's three members elect - Japan Airlines, Malév and Royal Jordanian - in early 2007, that will expand to almost 700 destinations and 150 countries.

BA to connect Calgary with London Heathrow: British Airways is to launch non-stops between its London Heathrow hub and Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta, from 1 December with an initial five Boeing 777s a week. Calgary is already on the oneworld network through services by American Airlines. Also from 1 December, the airline is to add an eighth daily frequency between LHR and JFK, on top of its three dailies to Newark, and increase Sao Paulo services from dailies to ten a week.

American Eagle spreads wings across four new routes: American Eagle, American Airlines' regional affiliate, which is part of oneworld, is launching four more US domestic non-stop routes from 6 September. From its Chicago O'Hare hub, it will open service to Greensboro (North Carolina) twice-daily and Columbia (South Carolina) and Jackson (Mississippi) daily. From its Dallas/Fort Worth home base it will fly to Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) daily. All destinations are already on the AA network, served from other points.

Recruits JAL and Malév launch more IET links with oneworld partners: oneworld recruits Japan Airlines and Malév have implemented more interline e-ticketing (IET) links with the alliance's established carriers.

Cathay Pacific is the latest partner to connect with JAL. The Japanese member elect already had IET in place with American Airlines and British Airways. Malév meantime has cut over with Qantas, in its fifth oneworld IET link-up. The Hungarian carrier, which will join oneworld along with JAL and Royal Jordanian early next year, already offers IET with AA, BA, LAN and Cathay. All three recruits will complete IET with all the alliance's carriers before they become part of the grouping.

oneworld has been the only alliance with interline e-ticketing (IET) between all of its partners since April 2005, enabling passengers to travel throughout its network using only electronic tickets.

Iberia completes roll-out of its new Business Plus longhaul service: All Iberia's longhaul aircraft now offer the airline's new Business Plus product, including its lie-flat seat beds, with their main cabins also refitted with the carrier's new-style Tourist class seats. A total of 21 of its established A340s have been upgraded to offer the new-style interiors in the past 18 months - during which time demand for its business product has risen by 20 per cent. All new A340s delivered since then have also entered service with the new-style cabins. The Skytrax airline quality agency has rated Iberia's Business Plus seat beds as among the best five in the world.

BA changes carry-on and check-in baggage allowances: British Airways has changed its allowances for check-in and carry-on baggage to make them easier for air travellers, reduce queues at airports and bring them in line with UK Department for Transport recommendations and requirements of the UK's main airport operator, BAA. The changes apply to BA mainline services only - not to its BA Connect regional services nor to its franchise partners.

Passengers on all BA mainline flights can now to take on board one standard-sized bag (measuring no more than 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm) plus one briefcase, laptop computer bag or an equivalent. There will be no weight limit on carry-on bags - so long as the passenger can lift his or her bag unaided into the overhead locker. Carry-on briefcases/computer bags must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of the passenger.

A single allowance system for checked-in baggage will be introduced from 11 October, based on a set number of bags, varying according to the class of travel and route. The maximum weight for any checked bag will be reduced to 23kg to comply with health and safety recommendations.

In an industry first, the airline is offering its customers the opportunity to pay for their excess baggage on-line before arriving at the departure airport, via www.ba.com/managemybooking. Those taking advantage of the new scheme will benefit from a 20 per cent discount.

  • For full details, see www.ba.com/baggagepolicy

oneworld in brief: oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus, plus their dozen affiliates. Japan Airlines, Malév and Royal Jordanian will join them early next year.

The alliance enables its members to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges. oneworld is the only alliance to enable passengers to fly throughout its network, on any combination of carriers, using just electronic tickets.

It is also the only alliance whose members reported collective profits in their latest full year.

Nota: LAN affiliates LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina are not members of oneworld.

ends