Aer Lingus quits Oneworld

Thursday, 30 May, 2006 0

Aer Lingus is to leave the Oneworld alliance but will retain bilateral links with a number of member airlines.

A spokesman for the alliance said Aer Lingus, currently the smallest airline in Oneworld, was leaving because its strategy no longer fits with the other members.

“Aer Lingus’ strategy has changed fundamentally since it joined the alliance six years ago and is no longer convergent with Oneworld’s,” he said.

“The alliance’s key target market is the multi-sector, premium, frequent international traveller, while Aer Lingus has repositioned itself as a low fares point-to-point carrier.”

The exact timing of its withdrawal will be decided at the next meeting for the alliance’s Governing Board but it is likely to be in early 2007.

By then, three new recruits – Japan Airlines, Malev Hungarian and Royal Jordanian – will be part of the group, increasing its capacity by more than 20%.

Oneworld said talks are progressing with other airlines interested in joining.

Aer Lingus is in discussions with various members about retaining strong bilateral links with them and intends to conclude these agreements before it leaves.

It said it has no intention of joining another global alliance.

Oneword said Ireland will remain part of the network through services operated by the alliance’s other member airlines.

By Bev Fearis

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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