Air Berlin set to join oneworld next month

Air Berlin 737-800. Courtesy, AB

Air Berlin (AB) has received the green light to join the oneworld alliance March 20 after completing a review by British Airways (BA), which is sponsoring its entry.

Europe's sixth largest carrier will also bring in Austrian partner FlyNiki as an affiliate member.

AB CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said joining oneworld 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 programs.” 

Former AB CEO Joachim Hunold told ATW in March the carrier invested around €10 million ($13.9 million) to become oneworld-ready (ATW Daily News, March 17, 2011).

AB and oneworld alliance partners will move to Berlin Brandenburg airport (BER), which will open June 3, eventually carrying 27 million passengers a year (ATW Daily News, Dec. 7, 2011).

Since accepting an invitation to join the alliance in July 2010 (ATW Daily News, July 28, 2010), AB has established codeshare agreements with seven oneworld partners—American Airlines, BA, Finnair, Iberia, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Royal Jordanian and S7.

Oneworld includes 11 carriers and around 20 affiliates.