oneworld is rapidly moving ahead with its digital revolution, with more member airlines linking up its new digital platform and more capabilities added. This fast progress in rolling out the global airline alliance’s flagship customer initiative comes as:
- Discussions are at an advanced stage with a number of airlines from several global regions interested in signing as oneworld connect partners, less than six months after Fiji Airways became the debut airline to operate via this new membership platform.
- Implementation advances of Royal Air Maroc as oneworld’s first full member recruit for six years and its first from Africa, targeting a joining date in the first half of 2020.
- The alliance is close to finalising the location for the first oneworld developed, branded and managed lounge, with talks progressing with several candidate airports around the world.
These initiatives – along with a fresh, contemporary and more inclusive approach to its brand positioning – form key elements of oneworld’s transformation programme, unveiled in February and designed to generate more value for customer and member airlines as the alliance marks the 20th anniversary of its launch this year.
Switch Planes, Not Apps – Bringing oneworld’s Core Customer Promise To Life Digitally
oneworld’s new digital platform, designed to make it even easier for travellers to fly across the alliance’s 1,100-destination global network by harnessing the power and convenience of latest technology, has achieved a number of key landmarks since its launch in February, adding capabilities to the platform.
As it is progressively rolled out, it will bring to life in the digital era the alliance’s core promise of seamless connectivity for customers flying on multi-sector, multi-airline journeys, via the convenience of their preferred member airline’s mobile app or website – without having to download any additional app or enter more log-in credentials.
At the same time, the alliance is working on adding other digital services, such as baggage tracking, full seat selection, including when payments are required, and the ability to pay for additional baggage.
As more airlines link to the platform and more capabilities are added, it will cover an increasing number of transfers between oneworld member airlines. With its full roll-out, every journey involving a connection between two or more oneworld member airlines will be supported by this level of ease and convenience.
Currently, more than 8 million passengers a year make journeys that involve connections between different oneworld member airlines – generating interline revenues of more than US$ 5.5 billion in the past year alone.