oneworld puts Kingfisher membership on hold

UPDATE | Kingfisher's pending membership of the oneworld alliance has been suspended due to the Indian airline's continuing financial difficulties.

Kingfisher was due to join oneworld on February 10, but oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby said in a statement "it has become increasingly clear recently that the airline needs more time to resolve the financial issues it is confronting before it can be welcomed into oneworld."

Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya added: "In light of the many priorities centred around Kingfisher Airlines' recapitalisation efforts, we felt it prudent to defer our entry into the alliance for a little while. This will allow us the opportunity to focus on the issues at hand and we look forward to being part of the oneworld alliance very shortly."

PREVIOUS | India's Kingfisher Airlines will join the oneworld alliance on Friday 10 February 2012.

It will be the first Indian carrier to join any of the global airline groups, and the first of three airlines to join oneworld in its biggest membership expansion drive for five years – with airberlin set to follow "shortly afterwards", according to a oneworld statement, and Malaysia Airlines in the second half of the year.

Qantas Frequent Flyers and members of other oneworld airline loyalty schemes will be able to earn and burn points on Kingfisher routes and share the same privileges as members of Kingfisher's own King Club frequent flyer programme.

Qantas Platinums will have the same status as King Club King Platinum (and oneworld Emerald status), and Qantas Gold will match against King Club Gold (oneworld Sapphire status). Naturally enough, Qantas Silver stacks up against King Club Silver (oneworld Ruby status).

"Kingfisher Airlines will expand oneworld's network substantially in a key region of growing travel demand, with a carrier that matches our demanding requirements, while enabling Kingfisher Airlines to offer its customers a truly global network on quality partners" said oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.