US AIRWAYS will join Oneworld with effect from March 31, 2014, following yesterday’s completion of its merger with the alliance’s founding member, American Airlines.
All its regional affiliates operating under the US Airways Express brand will also transit to Oneworld at the same time. Their transition will follow immediately upon their exit from Star Alliance, with the final flights on March 30, 2014.
Until the full integration of American Airlines and US Airways – which will see the combined airline retaining the American Airlines name – US Airways and its regional carriers will operate as Oneworld affiliate members, under the American umbrella.
During the transition period, American Airlines and US Airways will maintain their current loyalty programmes.
The tie-up of both airlines was initially blocked by a lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department on fears that domestic routes would be concentrated in the hands of the two heavyweights, but was recently greenlighted after both agreed to make concessions to ensure more competitiveness in the US market (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 14, 2013).
