Expansion of market prompts oneworld Alliance to reconsider Indian associate as potential partner

The oneworld Alliance, a global airline partnership consisting of 15 members including American Airlines and Qantas Airways, is looking to expand its presence in the rapidly growing Indian aviation market. This interest was recently expressed by the CEO of the oneworld Alliance, Nat Pieper, at a gathering of aviation executives and analysts known as the Wings Club in New York.

Currently, many of the oneworld Alliance members serve India, with the number of members having recently increased to 10, as Hawaiian Airlines is expected to join in 2026. Hawaiian Airlines, which completed its acquisition by Alaska Air in 2024, is already one of the 10 oneworld Alliance members currently serving in India.

The oneworld Alliance is considering a loyalty deal with its potential Indian partner, as well as a joint lounge initiative. Pieper emphasised that any new member must work for the group as a whole and for each of the 15 members. However, no specific airline has been publicly named yet.

The importance of the Indian market to the oneworld Alliance has been previously mentioned, but this announcement provides more emphasis on the significance of the market's growth. The growth rate of the Indian market has not been previously mentioned, but it is clear that it is of super importance to the oneworld Alliance.

Adding a new member to the oneworld Alliance is "always tricky", according to Pieper. The CEO highlighted that the new member must not only complement the existing alliance but also benefit each individual member. The oneworld Alliance is exploring ways to leverage their joint presence in India with a potential partner, with the aim of providing customers with more options and a seamless travel experience across the alliance.

The growth of the Indian market is significant for the oneworld Alliance, and this potential expansion is expected to strengthen the alliance's position in the market. The oneworld Alliance is confident that this move will bring benefits to both the alliance and its customers, as they continue to strive for excellence in the ever-evolving aviation industry.