Air Berlin to join Oneworld
Published: 27/07/2010 - Filed under: News »
Germany’s second largest carrier has announced it is to join the Oneworld airline alliance in early 2012.
In a statement Oneworld said:
“Air Berlin has accepted an invitation to join the Oneworld global alliance - and is to develop co-operative agreements with group members American Airlines and Finnair.”
A briefing was held earlier this week to confirm the announcement, hosted by Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold, British Airways’ Willie Walsh, American Airlines president Tom Horton, Finnair CEO Mika Vehvilainen, and Oneworld managing partner John McCulloch.
Often viewed as a low-cost carrier, Air Berlin offers free snacks and drinks on flights, as well as complimentary newspapers, assigned seating, and a frequent flyer loyalty scheme. Rival German carrier Lufthansa is a founding member of Star Alliance.
A webcast of the briefing can be viewed at airberlin.com/pressconference_oneworld. More details are also available in the comments section of this article.
For more information visit oneworld.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
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COMMENTS »
BusinessTraveller - 27/07/2010 13:37
A few additional details regarding the announcement:
- Air Berlin is expected to start flying as part of oneworld in early 2012, shortly before the opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport
- Air Berlin group member Austria's NIKI will become an affiliate member of the alliance
- Air Berlin will develop one-on-one co-operative agreements with key established members of the alliance American Airlines and Finnair, to take effect this coming winter season. Bilateral agreements with British Airways and Iberia are planned to follow
- British Airways will support Air Berlin through its oneworld implementation programme as its alliance sponsor
holmvall - 28/07/2010 09:25
Early 2012 - that sounds like a long time to wait to join an alliance..... It will be good for Air Berlin though - have only heard good things about them.
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