As oneworld marks its 20th anniversary, the global airline alliance unveils major benefits for customers and airlines

• Digital revolution: Customers flying on connecting flights on oneworld airlines to be able to check-in, obtain boarding passes, track baggage, receive flight updates and pay for additional services through their preferred airline’s app or website, progressively from this year.

• Even better customer experience:  oneworld-branded and managed airport lounges to be rolled out at key airports, offering more space and service.

• More member airlines: Royal Air Maroc to join in 2020 and Fiji Airways to be fully implemented as first oneworld connect partner next month, increasing the alliance network to 1,100 destinations in 180 territories, with more oneworld connect partners to be signed.

• Easier corporate sales: New process to speed response to multinational corporations.

21st Century brand:  New oneworld market positioning unveiled that is fresh, contemporary and more inclusive, reflecting the diversity of the alliance’s member airlines and their customers, with the tagline “Travel Bright” – and including a new website. The CEOs of oneworld® member airlines today met in London to unveil a radical transformation of the global alliance as it marks the 20th anniversary of its launch.

The moves are designed to increase the value that oneworld delivers to customers and to its member airlines into its third decade, while reflecting the substantial changes in the marketplace and the industry since oneworld originally took off on 1 February 1999.

oneworld’s transformation includes:

•    A new oneworld digital platform that will, as it is progressively rolled out, bring to life in the digital era the alliance’s core promise of seamless connectivity for customers flying on multi-sector, multi-airline journeys, via the convenience of their preferred member airline’s mobile app or website – without having to download any additional app or enter more log-in credentials.

•    An increased level of alliance co-location projects at a number of key airports around the world – with plans to unveil the first oneworld branded, developed and managed lounge later this year.

•    A fresh approach to corporate sales, enabling oneworld to respond much faster to requests for alliance contracts, which currently generate US$ 1 billion a year for member airlines.  Since trials of the new process began six months ago, revenues have risen 10 per cent.  Dozens of the world’s biggest multinational corporations have signed corporate accounts with the alliance rather than a series of individual airline deals.

•    A revised process for prospecting potential new members.  The first airline to join as a result will be Royal Air Maroc, next year – oneworld’s first full member recruit for six years and its first from Africa. 

•    The alliance’s first new membership platform, oneworld connect – designed with smaller, regional airlines in mind – with Fiji Airways’ entry as the first oneworld connect partner to be completed by the end of next month.  Talks are progressing with other airlines interested in signing, from the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, enabling the alliance to spread its wings still further globally.

These changes are reflected in a sweepingly different brand positioning for oneworld, encouraging passengers to “Travel Bright” – complete with a new oneworld.com website, both unveiled today.

What the CEOs say

oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said: “In the two decades since oneworld was launched, the industry and consumer behaviours have changed fundamentally.  Most of our member airlines have undergone comprehensive restructuring.  Some have merged.  When oneworld first took off, hardly any airline offered online bookings. Smartphones were in the future.  Social media did not exist.  Airline fares included everything.  Low-cost carriers were in their infancy.

“Since then, global alliances have grown greatly in terms of membership but, to be frank, they have failed to keep pace with the changes that their members, the industry at large and the marketplace have experienced.  At oneworld, we are making up for that.  As we enter our third decade, we are undergoing a radical transformation, with a host of fresh initiatives to strengthen further the relevance of the alliance to our member airlines and our customers.” oneworld Governing Board Chairman and Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce added: “Qantas was one of the airlines that founded oneworld 20 years ago and we’ve seen it evolve into the leading alliance in the sky..

“In some ways, oneworld represents a team of rivals, given several members are direct competitors in various regions. For two decades it’s been able to bring together the best carriers, lounges, frequent flyer programs and networks offer people a much smoother travel experience."

“Now, as the alliance enters its third decade, we are stepping up that cooperation and modernising how we work together to make oneworld even more relevant to international travellers and to its member airlines.”

Rob Gurney and Alan Joyce were joined at the London event today by their counterparts from oneworld’s other three founding members, who commented on behalf of colleagues from many of the other airlines that have joined them in the alliance since then, who were also present.

American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker noted: “As oneworld celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are very pleased with how the alliance is positioned – both today and for the future. Together, oneworld member airlines have a footprint that is far larger than American could ever have on its own. This additional connectivity is tremendously valuable to our customers and our team members and it is important for our business. We are excited about the future of oneworld and our continued partnership with some of the leading airlines in the world.”

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “British Airways hosted fellow founding oneworld members in London when we launched the alliance two decades ago and it is an honour to welcome this greatly expanded family back to our home city in our own centenary year to celebrate our alliance’s 20th anniversary.  Global alliances need to evolve to remain relevant in this fast changing industry – and that is just what oneworld is doing now.”

Cathay Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg remarked: “Cathay Pacific was proud to play our part in founding oneworld 20 years ago and establishing it as the leading quality alliance. And we are proud today to be playing our part again in transforming the alliance, moving forward to deliver more benefits both for our customers and our fellow member airlines as the alliance flies into its third decade and beyond.” About oneworld

oneworld was launched on 1 February 1999 by founding members American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas.  Since then, they have been joined by Finnair and Iberia, on 1 September 1999, then LATAM (then LanChile) on 1 June 2000, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian on 1 April 2007, S7 Airlines on 15 November 2010, Malaysia Airlines on 1 February 2013, Qatar Airways on 30 October 2013 and SriLankan Airlines on 1 May 2014.  Royal Air Maroc was invited into the alliance in December and is on track to join during 2020.  Around 30 airlines linked to the alliance’s full members are oneworld affiliate members, offering its full range of services and benefits.  Fiji Airways was introduced as the first oneworld connect partner in December 2018, offering a subset of the alliance’s services and benefits, and is on track for full implementation next month. Collectively, these airlines now:

• Serve 1,100 airports in 180 territories, with 14,000 daily departures.

• Carry almost 550 million passengers a year on a combined fleet of 3,500 aircraft.

• Generate US$ 135 billion annual total revenues.

Since oneworld was launched its members have boarded a total of 7 billion customers – equivalent to today’s entire global population. 

oneworld member airlines work together to deliver consistently a superior, seamless travel experience, with special privileges and rewards for frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network. Top tier cardholders (Emerald and Sapphire) enjoy access to more than 650 airport lounges and are offered extra baggage allowances. The most regular travelers (Emerald) can also use fast track security lanes at select airports.

oneworld holds more “best airline alliance” awards than its competitors combined:

Key statistics from oneworld’s first 20 years