ONEWORLD has welcomed two airlines into its fold for a combined 20 per cent increase in annual flight capacity across the alliance.
US Airways and Sao Paulo-based TAM Airlines officially joined the airline alliance yesterday, marking their departures from Star Alliance. The addition of both airlines give Oneworld close to 100 new destinations and a 20 per cent boost in annual capacity.
US Airways’ regional affiliates, operating as US Airways Express, will be Oneworld affiliate members under American Airlines Group until US Airways completes its full integration with American Airlines under its merger (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 14, 2014).
US Airways and its affiliates fly to over 200 destinations in 30 countries.
TAM’s partner in LATAM Airlines Group, LAN Airlines, has been a member of Oneworld since 2000, while TAM serves 61 destinations across 16 countries in Latin America, the US and Europe. It brings to Oneworld 45 destinations in Brazil.
With TAM and US Airways under the Oneworld umbrella, their frequent flyer programmes have also been aligned with the alliance’s. Loyalty programme members will retain all points or miles earned and the move to Oneworld has no impact on their tier status.
TAM Fidelidade Black and Red Plus cardholders and US Airways Dividend Miles Chairman’s Preferred cardholders now have the top Emerald status in the Oneworld programme.
Top-tier members will have access to a host of benefits across the Oneworld alliance network including use of lounges and quicker check-ins.
