Qatar Airlines Joins oneworld
oneworld announced (30-Oct-2013) Qatar Airways formally becomes part of alliance on 30-Oct-2013, adding one of the world's fastest growing and most highly rated airlines the global airline alliance. From its first services on 30-Oct-2013, Qatar Airways will be offering oneworld's full range of services and benefits. It joins oneworld just one year after receiving its invitation to join, making its induction one of the fastest in the alliance's history. Membership will allow the airline to strengthen its competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers a global network served by partners that include leading airlines from every region. Qatar Airways serves more than 130 destinations in 70 countries. More than 20 of its destinations and five countries - Ethiopia, Iran, Rwanda, Serbia and Tanzania - will be new to the oneworld map. oneworld stated its membership makes oneworld the leading alliance in one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand. onworld will conduct a marketing drive to promote the airline's addition to the alliance. oneworld logos will be applied by the side passenger entrance doors on Qatar Airway's entire fleet of 130 aircraft as part of a rebranding programme that will also see the alliance logo added virtually wherever the Qatar Airways name is displayed. British Airways has been supporting Qatar Airways through its alliance implementation project, as its oneworld sponsor airline, with backing from the central oneworld team. Since accepting its invitation to join the alliance a year ago, Qatar Airways has expanded its codesharing relationships to two established oneworld partners - American Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. oneworld announced it will also offer is new 'Visit Middle East' fare from 01-Nov-2013, following the addition tonight of Qatar Airways to oneworld - offering attractive flexible fares on flights within one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand. The oneworld Visit Middle East pass features all Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian Airlines flights within the Gulf, Levant and Egypt - and also those of the other oneworld partners operating within this region, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. It offers flights to 30 destinations in 12 countries. [more - original PR] [more - Frequent Flyer Programme] [more - new fare offering]
Qatar Airways: "Alliances are playing an increasingly important role in the airline industry today - and that will continue long into the future. Becoming a member of oneworld is one of the most significant landmarks in Qatar Airways' history. It will strengthen our competitive offering and give our customers what they fully deserve - more choice across a truly global network served together with airline partners who include some of the best and biggest in the world," Akbar Al Baker, CEO. Source: Company statement, 29-Oct-2013.
oneworld: "Qatar Airways' addition as our second member airline in the Middle East makes oneworld the leading alliance in what is one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand. oneworld is delighted to be the only global alliance to welcome on board one of the major Gulf carriers, enabling us to be the only global alliance to offer consumers the services and benefits offered by both a global alliance and a Gulf carrier. Our own analysis clearly demonstrated that Qatar Airways is the best fit for oneworld's network, requirements, philosophy and strategy," Bruce Ashby, CEO. Source: Company statement, 29-Oct-2013.