{ "title": "US Airways to join oneworld on 31 March 2014", "modified_at": "2013-12-10 08:00:00", "published_at": "2013-12-10 08:00:00", "url": "https://news.cathaypacific.com/us-airways-to-join-oneworld-on-31-march-2014-173318", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/2fJ", "culture": "en_KR", "language": "EN", "slug": "us-airways-to-join-oneworld-on-31-march-2014-173318", "body": "

US Airways will join oneworld\u00ae with effect from 31 March 2014, following completion today of its merger with alliance founding member American Airlines.\u00a0 All its regional affiliates, operating under the US Airways Express brand, will also transition to oneworld at the same time.

\r\nTheir entry into oneworld with effect from the first flights on 31 March 2014 will follow immediately upon their exit from the Star Alliance with the final flights on 30 March 2014.\u00a0 All parties are taking every effort to ensure that the alliance transition is as seamless as possible for customers.

\r\nUntil the full integration of American Airlines and US Airways \u2013 which will see the combined airline retaining the American Airlines name \u2013 US Airways and its regional carriers will operate as oneworld affiliate members, under the American umbrella.

\r\nThey will offer oneworld\u2019s full range of services and benefits \u2013 although some may be phased in shortly after US Airways joins.\u00a0 US Airways, American and their oneworld partners are working to provide the most popular benefits and services on an accelerated timeline.

\r\nA thorough communications plan is being developed to brief customers in detail on all the benefits and privileges they will receive with US Airways as a member of oneworld and as those benefits become available.

\r\nDuring the transition period as they work towards their full integration, American and US Airways will maintain their current loyalty programmes.\u00a0\u00a0

\r\nUS Airways underlined today that all its Dividend Miles cardholders will maintain all miles earned and their tier status.\u00a0 Dividend Miles Preferred members will be sent new membership cards with the oneworld logo, for use from 31 March.

\r\nDividend Miles Chairman cardholders will have the top Emerald status in the oneworld programme.\u00a0 Dividend Miles Platinum and Gold will be equivalent to oneworld Sapphire and Dividend Miles Silver will be oneworld Ruby.

\r\nFrom 31 March, Dividend Miles Chairman, Platinum and Gold members will be able to access some 600 airport lounges worldwide offered by oneworld member airlines when they fly with one of the alliance\u2019s carriers.\u00a0 As oneworld Emeralds, Dividend Miles Chairman cardholders will be able to use First Class lounges, where available \u2013 and receive an additional baggage allowance and access fast tracks through departure security at select airports.

\r\nAll Dividend Miles members will be able to earn mileage and status points when flying on any oneworld member airline from 31 March, but the ability to redeem mileage rewards for flights on other\u00a0 oneworld airlines may be phased in shortly afterwards.\u00a0

\r\nThe 140 million members of established oneworld airlines\u2019 frequent flyer programmes will also receive \u00a0\u00a0alliance services and benefits when flying on US Airways from 31 March.\u00a0 From day one, this will include the ability to earn mileage and tier status points and, for Emerald and Sapphire cardholders, to access US Airways\u2019 lounges when flying on oneworld departures, although the ability to redeem rewards for flights on US Airways, may be phased in shortly afterwards.

\r\nAs it becomes part of the group on 31 March 2014, US Airways\u2019 network will be covered by oneworld\u2019s range of alliance fares \u2013 the most extensive offered by any of the global alliances.\u00a0

\r\nOn its own, US Airways is the fifth largest airline in the USA and one of the 30 largest in the world.\u00a0 With its regional affiliates, it serves more than 200 destinations and 30 countries with a fleet of more than 625 aircraft.\u00a0 It carried 82.5 million passengers in 2012 and currently operates 3,200 departures a day.

\r\nIt will add 60 destinations to the oneworld map \u2013 most in its US home but also three in Canada and one in Mexico \u2013 along with its key hubs of Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington DC\u2019s Reagan National, expanding oneworld\u2019s presence across the USA, particularly throughout the East Coast and across the North Atlantic.

\r\nIts merger with American Airlines creates the world\u2019s largest airline on most measures, giving oneworld the leading alliance position in the USA, the world\u2019s largest air travel market.\u00a0 The new American will offer service to more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries, carrying 190 million passengers a year on a fleet of 1,500 aircraft.

\r\nThe addition of US Airways represents the latest landmark in oneworld\u2019s biggest membership expansion yet.\u00a0 Other elements elsewhere in the world include:
\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The addition of Malaysia Airlines, one of the industry\u2019s most frequent award winners, on 1 February, further strengthening oneworld\u2019s position in South East Asia, one of the fastest growing regions for air travel demand.
\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The induction on 1 October 2013 of LAN Colombia, the second largest airline in South America\u2019s second biggest economy, the final part of the LAN group to join oneworld.
\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The introduction on 30 October 2013 of Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing and most highly rated airlines in the world and the only one of the big Gulf carriers to join any global alliance, making oneworld the leading alliance in the Middle East.
\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The forthcoming transition to oneworld by TAM, the leading airline in Latin America\u2019s leading economy, Brazil, with its Paraguayan affiliate to be added soon afterwards.\u00a0\u00a0 This will complete the consolidation in oneworld of all the passenger carriers in LATAM Airlines Group, the region\u2019s leading airline group, building on oneworld\u2019s position as the leading global airline alliance serving Latin America.
\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The introduction early next year of SriLankan Airlines, as the first airline from the Indian subcontinent to join any global alliance, which, with Qatar Airways, will make oneworld the leading alliance in the region.

\r\nWith the addition of these airlines, the oneworld network will expand to almost a thousand destinations in more than 150 countries, served by 14,250 daily departures - equivalent to a oneworld flight taking off or landing every three seconds around the clock \u2013 carrying 475 million passengers last year and generating annual revenues of US$ 140 billion.

\r\nAmerican Airlines\u2019 CEO Doug Parker said: \u201cAs we work toward creating the new American, network strength and breadth are essential components in building what will be world\u2019s greatest airline. We look forward to providing our customers with access to key points all around the world via oneworld. Adding US Airways to the roster of oneworld member airlines is a significant step we will take as we combine the two carriers to create the new American.\u201d

\r\nAmerican Airlines\u2019 Chairman Tom Horton \u2013 who also serves as Chairman of oneworld \u2013 said: \u201cThe oneworld alliance was formed with one goal in mind: to create the finest customer experience for frequent international travelers. That remains our focus today, as the alliance welcomes another great airline into the fold. The addition of US Airways will significantly strengthen the alliance\u2019s presence in the US and provide US Airways customers access to a truly global network.\u201d

oneworld\u2019s CEO Bruce Ashby said: \u201cThe addition of US Airways to oneworld represents a significant milestone in our journey to establish oneworld as the first choice airline alliance for frequent international travellers the world over.\u00a0 We look forward to welcoming US Airways, its customers and employees on board the world\u2019s premier global airline alliance with effect from 31 March next year.\u201d\u00a0

About oneworld
oneworld is an alliance of the world\u2019s leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers. These include leading brands from each global region.\u00a0 Besides American, they feature LAN from South America; airberlin, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Russia\u2019s S7 Airlines from Europe; Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian, from the Middle East; Asia-Pacific\u2019s Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Qantas; and some 30 affiliated airlines.\u00a0\u00a0 Besides US Airways, Brazil\u2019s TAM and SriLankan Airlines are also lining up to join early next year.

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 some 600 airport lounges. The most regular travellers (Emerald) can also use fast track security lanes at select airports and extra baggage allowances.

oneworld is currently the holder of an unprecedented seven leading international awards for airline alliances \u2013 more than any other airline alliance has held before.\u00a0 It was named World\u2019s Best Airline Alliance in the 2013 World Airline Awards by the independent Skytrax airline quality ratings agency, the Best Airline Alliance by Global Traveler in its GT Tested Reader Survey 2013 Awards for the fourth year running, the World\u2019s Leading Airline Alliance in the 2013 World Travel Awards for the 11th year running, Business Traveller\u2019s Best Airline Alliance 2013, Premier Traveler\u2019s Best Airline Alliance 2013, Australian Business Traveller Best Airline Alliance in 2012 for the second year running, and FlightStats Airline Alliance On-Time Performance 2012 winner, believed to have been the first time a punctuality award has been presented to any airline alliance.

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