Japan Airlines (JAL) has officially joined the oneworld travel alliance, expanding the group’s scope to include almost 150 countries and 9,000 daily departures.
Other new members of oneworld include JAL associates JALways, Japan Asia Airways, JAL Express, J-AIR and Japan Transocean Air, as well as Malev Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian.
The alliance brings benefits for passengers such as special fares and products, inter-airline mileage programmes and e-ticketing between carriers. British Airways is also a member of oneworld.
Travellers flying with JAL will also be able to benefit from the group’s 400 airport lounges around the world.
JAL Group chief executive Haruka Nishimatsu said joining oneworld was a “historic milestone”, adding: “It means we can offer our customers more choice, convenience and better value.”
However, the oneworld alliance has also lost a member with the departure of Aer Lingus. The Irish national carrier withdrew from the group yesterday (April 1) as its new low-fare strategy is not in line with oneworld’s focus on premium international travellers.
