JAL to Join Oneworld Global Alliance of Airlines

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Oct. 25–TOKYO — Japan Airlines Corp. said Tuesday it will join the oneworld global airline alliance to upgrade its customer services, including an expansion of its flight network.

JAL said it will shortly sign an agreement to join the alliance so as to launch tie-ups with other group members in such services as issuance of electronic tickets, frequent flyer mileage programs, sharing of airport lounges and flight connections.

Oneworld currently has eight members — American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Iberia, LAN and Qantas — and provides flight services covering a total of 600 cities in 135 countries.

JAL was the only major airline that was not part of a global airline group. It has been forming one-to-one alliances with such airlines as American Airlines and British Airways.

Analysts said JAL has decided to abandon its strategy of going it alone in a bid to boost its business following a recent series of safety problems that have forced customers to turn to other airlines.

Most airlines in the world have joined the oneworld alliance or two other groups — Star Alliance and SkyTeam. All Nippon Airways Co., JAL’s domestic rival, belongs to the Star Alliance group, which includes Lufthansa, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

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