Oneworld expands into Africa

THE oneworld airline alliance today announced that Moroccobased Royal Air Maroc would become its newest member, with the move set to add 34 new destinations and 21 countries to the alliance’s global map.

Royal Air Maroc will be a full member of oneworld, with its base in Casablanca currently serving 94 destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas - including a host of oneworld hubs such as Doha, London Heathrow, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Sao Paulo.

The airline is the first full member addition to oneworld since 2012, and is expected to be integrated into the alliance in 2020 at which time its regional subsidiary Royal Air Maroc Express will also become an affiliate member of the group.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who is currently oneworld Governing Board Chairman, said Africa was the last major region where the alliance did not have a full member, with the continent also forecast to have one of the fastest air travel growth rates over the coming decades.

Royal Air Maroc has an ambitious five year plan to almost double its passenger numbers and boost its global network to 121 destinations in 68 countries.

MEANWHILE, effective from today, Fiji Airways has also begun flying under its new “oneworld connect” partnership, which was announced by the alliance’s CEO Rob Gurney during the IATA AGM in Sydney this year (TD 04 Jun).

Customers with Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status in any oneworld member’s frequent flyer program can use FJ priority check-in desks, while additional customer benefits are being phased in between Fiji Airways and its sponsors American Airlines, BA, CX and Qantas.