Industry oneworld introduces oneworld connect and Fiji Airways to be the first member

With oneworld connect, the alliance seeks to connect the world´s best airlines. Its customers are set to enjoy more services and better benefits across an extensive global network. As stated on its website, oneworld connect is the first new membership platform unveiled by oneworld since the alliance was introduced 20 years ago.

The first airline to join oneworld connect is Fiji Airways. However, a date from when Fiji Airways will offer oneworld connect services yet to be announced. Founding members of the network are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Most of these airlines already have codeshare agreements with Fiji Airways.

In a statement, oneworld announced: “Each oneworld connect partner will need to have a minimum of three oneworld members as its sponsors to be initiated into the programme. The initial oneworld sponsors of Fiji Airways will be all four of oneworld’s original founding members - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. The Australian carrier will additionally mentor Fiji Airways through its oneworld connect implementation process.”

Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen stated: “Fiji Airways is thrilled and honoured to be the first oneworld connect partner globally. We are delighted to link Fiji, and the South Pacific to the world’s premier airline alliance and further deepen our relationships in particular with Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. This important step for our airline enables us to offer more services and benefits to our own customers along with the others in the oneworld family, to achieve a greater presence for our airline internationally and to build on the in-bound tourism that is so vital to our home nation and our region.”

oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said: “oneworld’s current network of more than 1,000 destinations in 150 plus territories offers far-reaching global coverage, but there are still some regions where we would like to strengthen our presence further. With fewer potential new candidates available to recruit based on our established membership criteria, oneworld connect enables us to link up with other airlines whose networks are relevant to a subset of our members, who cannot meet oneworld’s full membership requirements at this stage or who are not interested in full membership at present.

Fiji Airways is the flag carrier of Fiji. The airline operates with a fleet of 10 aircraft, including four Airbus A330-200s, one Airbus A330-300, four Boeing 737-800s and one Boeing 737-700. Subsidiary airline Fiji Link operates with two ATR 72 and one ATR 42 aircraft on regional routes. Fiji Airways serves 21 destinations in 13 countries, including oneworld hubs in Tokyo, Sydney, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. In December, the carrier expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8.

oneworld is an alliance of some of the world´s leading airlines. Members are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines. Summarized, all airlines serve more than 1000 airports, carrying almost 550 million passengers a year with a combined fleet of 3500 aircraft.