THE oneworld frequent-flier alliance – which counts American Airlines as its US anchor – officially invited Qatar Airways to become the group's newest member at a ceremony in New York Monday. “Alliances are playing an increasingly important role in the airline industry today - and that will continue long into the future,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in a statement accompanying the carrier's invitation to oneworld. “Qatar Airways has carefully reviewed its strategic options and it is very clear that joining oneworld is by far the best way forward for us as we look to strengthen our competitive offering and give passengers what they fully deserve - more choice,” Al Baker said in the statement. “Things are changing in the Middle East and in the global aviation industry,” Al Baker said at a New York press conference. “When you cannot defeat your competitors, you join them. And that is what is happening here.” Qatar Airways' integration into oneworld is expected to take 12 to 18 months, according to both the airline and the alliance. American, which anchors the oneworld alliance alongside other heavyweights such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, was quick to welcome its new strategic partner. “Adding Qatar Airways will significantly improve our connectivity between many of the destinations that are most important to those customers, so today's agreement with Qatar Airways will enable us to offer even more value,” Tom Horton, CEO of AA parent AMR, says in a the release welcoming Qatar Airways. International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh called QR joining oneworld a “landmark” for the alliance. “The Middle East is one of the world's fastest growing regions for air transport demand … [and] Qatar Airways is one of the world's fastest growing airlines,” he said. “Qatar Airways is the second largest full-service airline in the world – until today – not aligned with one of the world's global alliances.” QR, which was founded in 1997, has a fleet of 111 aircraft and carried 15 million passengers in 2011. Al Baker said joining oneworld will not slow the airline's rapid pace of growth. “Becoming part of an alliance will not stop our expansion,” he said. “Quite the contrary.” He expressed confidence QR will be able to fully join oneworld in as few as 12 months. “We have a lot of integration of systems, processes, frequent flier programs to do,” he said. He noted there is already system “commonality” in many areas, which should speed the process. – SG
