Germany’s second biggest airline, airberlin, has today become a part of one of the largest global airline alliances, oneworld.

Austria’s NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, joined oneworld as an affiliate member at the same time.

Both airlines will offer oneworld’s services and benefits starting today and substantially expand the alliance’s network in Germany, Austria and throughout Central and South Europe, a statement said.

The new partnership will strengthen airberlin’s competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivalled alliance global network served by partners including some of the best and biggest airlines in the world.

For oneworld, airberlin’s addition makes Germany a home market for the alliance – stepping up competition for some 200 million passengers a year flying to, from and within one of Europe’s biggest economy.

Currently Germany is one of only a handful of countries worldwide served by all oneworld’s active member airlines.

The airline company’s addition more than triples the number of cities served by the alliance to 25, while NIKI doubles its coverage of Austria to six airports.

Airberlin serves a total of 162 destinations in 40 countries. Almost 70 of those, along with Iceland and Iraq, are new to the oneworld network, extending its global coverage to some 800 destinations in 150 countries, generating annual revenues of almost $100 billion. 

Both airline companies’ networks will be covered by oneworld’s marketing leading alliance fares and sales products from April 1, the statement said. 

It includes participation in business flyer, the alliance’s offering for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Airberlin already offers a similar product of its own in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in its business points programme.

Members of airberlin’s top bonus programme now enjoy the full range of oneworld frequent flyer benefits when travelling with any oneworld member airline worldwide – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and almost 20 affiliated airlines.

Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO, airberlin, said: “Becoming a member of oneworld is one of the most significant departures for airberlin. It will strengthen our competitive position considerably, enabling us to offer our customers a truly global network together with our partners who include some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, while enabling us also to tap into all the financial benefits that come from being part of a global alliance, through additional passenger feed and participation in various efficiency programmes.”

“Oneworld’s focus is on frequent international travellers and we believe we offer unmatched coverage of the routes they most want to fly, linking the world’s leading business cities,” said Tom Horton, chairman, American Airlines; and CEO, and chairman of oneworld governing board. “Airberlin adds one of the most attractive networks serving Europe’s biggest economy, so travelers in this region now have an alternative choice for their travel worldwide.” – TradeArabia News Service