Qatar Airways to join oneworld

Qatar Airways is to join oneworld, adding one of the world’s fastest growing and most highly rated airlines to one of the world’s leading quality airline alliance. Its election as a oneworld member designate was announced at a press conference in New York on October 9th – home of oneworld’s central alliance management office – with senior executives of Qatar Airways and the alliance’s established member airlines in attendance. The Doha-based airline’s implementation into oneworld is expected to take between 12 and 18 months. The carrier is set to move into a brand new home in 2013 with the opening of the New Doha International Airport, designed to strengthen its position as a premium global hub with an eventual capacity for 50 million passengers a year. As a member of oneworld, Qatar Airways will fly alongside some of the biggest and best brands in the airline business. British Airways will serve as its sponsor in joining oneworld, supported by the central oneworld alliance team, mentoring the recruit through its alliance implementation programme.