airberlin today became part of oneworld® while Austria's NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, joined oneworld as an affiliate member at the same time.

Both airlines are from today offering oneworld's services and expanding the alliance's network in Germany, Austria and throughout Central and South Europe.

airberlin's addition more than triples the number of cities served by the alliance there 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 airports, along with the countries of Iceland and Iraq, are new to the oneworld network, extending oneworld's global coverage to some 800 destinations in 150 countries, served by more than 8,750 departures a day carrying nearly a million passengers a day on a combined fleet of almost 2,500 aircraft, generating annual revenues of almost US$ 100 billion.

airberlin and NIKI's networks will be covered by oneworld's marketing leading alliance fares and sales products from 1 April 2012.

That includes participation in businessflyerTM, the alliance's offering for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in most countries where it is offered - Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands. airberlin already offers a similar product of its own in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, in its business points programme.

Members of airberlin's topbonus 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.

The 120 million members of the established oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes can now earn and redeem awards and tier status points and receive all other oneworld benefits on airberlin and NIKI.

All oneworld airline CEOs attend joining ceremony - with first aircraft at BER Brandenburg

Chief Executives from all oneworld member airlines gathered at airberlin's Berlin home today to welcome on board the alliance's latest recruit.

Joining airberlin Chief Executive Hartmut Mehdorn at today's ceremony are expected to be:

American Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive, and Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, Tom Horton.

• British Airways Chief Executive Keith Williams.
• Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Executive John Slosar
• Finnair President and Chief Executive Mika Vehvilainen
• IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh.
• Iberia Chief Executive Raphael Sánchez-Lozano.
• Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi.
• LAN International Chief Executive Damian Scokin
• Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce.
• Royal Jordanian Chief Executive Hussein Dabbas.
• S7 Group Chief Executive Vladislav Filev.
• Member elect Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.
• oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby.

Also attending will be NIKI Managing Directors Christian Lesjak and Otmar Lenz.

airberlin's addition to oneworld completed projects with working groups covering some 20 streams of activity, bringing its various internal processes and procedures into line with the alliance's requirements, and running extensive employee training and communications programmes.

Since accepting its invitation to join the alliance in July 2010, airberlin has implemented code-sharing with seven established oneworld partners - American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, S7 Airlines and Royal Jordanian.

British Airways has been supporting airberlin through its alliance implementation project, as its oneworld sponsor airline, with backing from the central oneworld team.

The CEO's comments:

airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn 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. We are very pleased and proud to be lining up to join what is clearly the world's top quality airline grouping.

American Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive, and Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, Tom Horton, stated: "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. airberlin adds one of the most attractive networks serving Europe's biggest economy, so travelers in this region now truly have an alternative choice for their travel worldwide."

Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of IAG, parent company of airberlin's oneworld sponsor British Airways, added: "Our aim has always been to establish oneworld as the first choice alliance for the world's frequent international travellers - with an unrivalled collection of quality carriers, delivering unmatched benefits to customers and to member airlines alike. That remains our focus today, as the alliance adds another great airline."

Source: oneworld