My favourite boutique airline would love to be a part of the oneworld alliance.
Oman Air is interested in oneworld alliance
Reuters reports that Oman Air plans to apply for membership in the oneworld global alliance. The airline hopes to have Qatar Airways support. Qatar Airways is not just another regional airline but is also a member airline of oneworld. Qatar Airways CEO is currently the chairman of oneworld.
Oman Airs offers a great business class
Here's the statement from the airline:
Airline alliances will be even more important as the industry recovers after COVID. This will allow us to provide seamless global connectivity and offer more valuable loyalty offers for our guests.
The oneworld alliance made the following statement in the meantime:
As airlines recover from COVID-19 alliances will be more important. They provide global connectivity and enable airlines to reshape their networks. Many airlines have smaller fleets than before COVID.
Oneworld is one of three major global alliances. Oneworld includes major airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qantas. Two new members were added to the airline (Alaska, Royal Air Maroc) but one member was lost (LATAM).
I would love for Oman Air to join the oneworld alliance. Oneworld has the strongest elite recognition of any major alliance. I also love being a Oman Air Emerald and I am a big fan of Oman Air's first and business class products. I would love to be able redeem American AAdvantage points for travel on Oman Air.
I would love to be able redeem oneworld miles for Oman Air's first class
Play the Qatar Airways interesting dynamic
I am not certain where Oman Air is currently in the application process for oneworld membership.
Is Oman Air aware that oneworld had contacted them about their intention to apply for membership before today's announcement? Or did they just make it public at the beginning of negotiations?
Why did Oman Air choose oneworld over Star Alliance and SkyTeam?
Is Oman Air aware that Qatar Airways has been contacted by Oman Air about helping them? Or is it just saying publicly, "We want to join oneworld and we hope our competitor Qatar Airways will assist us?"
This is an extremely difficult situation for Qatar Airways, if you ask me.
Alliances are generally formed by airlines that have complementary routes networks. Oman Air and Qatar Airways share a lot of traffic (flights between Europe & Asia, for instance).
You might think Qatar Airways would be against a direct competitor joining oneworld. However, Qatar Airways CEO is currently chairman of oneworld and has stated that he wants to grow the alliance.
Oman Air is an Oman Air competitor to Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways views Emirates Airline ultimately as its largest competitor. Oman Air could be a potential asset.
There aren't many airlines that want to join major alliances. It is a fact.
Qatar Airways CEO wants to expand the oneworld alliance
Is Oman Air a good fit to oneworld?
Oman Airs desire to join oneworld is surprising in some ways. While I would love for that to happen, it seems that Star Alliance would be a better match.
Qatar Airways is already part of the oneworld alliance. This airline is one of the largest in the Gulf and competes directly with Oman Air when it comes to connecting traffic.
Star Alliance on the other side doesn't have any airlines from that region. The closest airlines would be EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines. However, I wouldn't consider these to be direct competitions in the same way.
I wonder if Oman Air is more attracted to oneworld because the negotiations are progressing faster than we think.
Star Alliance could also be a good fit to Oman Air
Bottom line
Oman Air wants to join the oneworld alliance and has asked Qatar Airways for assistance. We don't know the odds of this becoming a reality. Oman Air has expressed its desire to join the oneworld alliance, but we don't know how the oneworld alliance will react.
Politics can often get in the way when new airlines join alliances. Airlines don't want direct competition. He is the current chairman and CEO of Qatar Airways. He has pledged to expand the alliance. Let's hope that this includes allowing rival airlines in, and realizing Qatar Airways is better off working alongside Oman Air to gain market share away from Emirates.
I would love to see Oman Air join oneworld. I am a oneworld loyalist and I love Oman Air. I would also be thrilled to be able redeem and earn valuable miles and take advantage of elite perks.
What do you think of Oman Airs' desire to join oneworld
