ID :
186620
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 09:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/186620
The shortlink copeid
MAS TO JOIN ONEWORLD ALLIANCE
SINGAPORE, June 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is to join
oneworld, adding one of aviation’s most frequent award winners, to the world’s leading quality airline alliance.
MAS was unanimously elected a oneworld member designate by the Chief Executives of the alliance’s member airlines, at a meeting on the
sidelines of the IATA’s 2011 World Air Transport Summit, which opens in
Singapore Monday.
A formal alliance membership agreement will be completed soon and MAS is expected to start flying as part of oneworld late next year.
MAS Chairman Dr Munir Abdul Majid in a statement said: "The Board of Malaysia Airlines had targeted entry into an alliance this year.
"I am glad we are at the stage where the initiation with oneworld is formalised."
MAS Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tengku Azmil Aziz said with the global airline industry increasingly focused on alliances, MAS had carried out a careful analysis of the options available to it.
He said the time was clearly right for the company to join one of the global airline groups, and oneworld is clearly the best option.
"As a company highly focused on quality service, we are immensely proud to have been invited to join the highest quality alliance with the best airline partners offering a global network that best complements our own.
"We look forward to completing all joining requirements as soon as
possible," he added.
American Airlines’ Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard Arpey, Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, described today’s agreement with MAS as representing another significant milestone in the journey to establish oneworld firmly as the world’s premier airline alliance with members unmatched in brand and service quality.
As it prepares for its alliance membership, MAS intends to develop bilateral links with a number of oneworld’s established partners, who include some of the biggest and best names in the airline industry.
It already code-shares with oneworld partners, Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.
When it becomes part of oneworld, its customers will gain access to the alliance’s truly global network.
It will expand oneworld’s global coverage to almost 950 destinations in 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of more than 2,600 aircraft operating some 10,000 flights a day, and carrying 358 million passengers annually.
Three established oneworld member airlines currently serve Malaysia, with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian flying to Kuala Lumpur, and Cathay Pacific also to Penang and, through its Dragonair affiliate, Kota Kinabalu.
Opportunities for expanding the alliance’s coverage of the country will be explored as MAS prepares to join.
When it becomes part of oneworld, members of MAS' Enrich frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem rewards on any of oneworld’s 14 other top-class carriers.
Top tier members will be able to use any of the group’s 550 plus airport lounges, and its network will be covered by oneworld’s range of alliance fares.
At the same time, frequent flyer cardholders of oneworld’s established airlines will be able to earn and redeem rewards when flying on MAS.
Qantas will serve as sponsor of MAS' entry into oneworld.
oneworld, adding one of aviation’s most frequent award winners, to the world’s leading quality airline alliance.
MAS was unanimously elected a oneworld member designate by the Chief Executives of the alliance’s member airlines, at a meeting on the
sidelines of the IATA’s 2011 World Air Transport Summit, which opens in
Singapore Monday.
A formal alliance membership agreement will be completed soon and MAS is expected to start flying as part of oneworld late next year.
MAS Chairman Dr Munir Abdul Majid in a statement said: "The Board of Malaysia Airlines had targeted entry into an alliance this year.
"I am glad we are at the stage where the initiation with oneworld is formalised."
MAS Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tengku Azmil Aziz said with the global airline industry increasingly focused on alliances, MAS had carried out a careful analysis of the options available to it.
He said the time was clearly right for the company to join one of the global airline groups, and oneworld is clearly the best option.
"As a company highly focused on quality service, we are immensely proud to have been invited to join the highest quality alliance with the best airline partners offering a global network that best complements our own.
"We look forward to completing all joining requirements as soon as
possible," he added.
American Airlines’ Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard Arpey, Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, described today’s agreement with MAS as representing another significant milestone in the journey to establish oneworld firmly as the world’s premier airline alliance with members unmatched in brand and service quality.
As it prepares for its alliance membership, MAS intends to develop bilateral links with a number of oneworld’s established partners, who include some of the biggest and best names in the airline industry.
It already code-shares with oneworld partners, Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.
When it becomes part of oneworld, its customers will gain access to the alliance’s truly global network.
It will expand oneworld’s global coverage to almost 950 destinations in 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of more than 2,600 aircraft operating some 10,000 flights a day, and carrying 358 million passengers annually.
Three established oneworld member airlines currently serve Malaysia, with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian flying to Kuala Lumpur, and Cathay Pacific also to Penang and, through its Dragonair affiliate, Kota Kinabalu.
Opportunities for expanding the alliance’s coverage of the country will be explored as MAS prepares to join.
When it becomes part of oneworld, members of MAS' Enrich frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem rewards on any of oneworld’s 14 other top-class carriers.
Top tier members will be able to use any of the group’s 550 plus airport lounges, and its network will be covered by oneworld’s range of alliance fares.
At the same time, frequent flyer cardholders of oneworld’s established airlines will be able to earn and redeem rewards when flying on MAS.
Qantas will serve as sponsor of MAS' entry into oneworld.
