Dragonair is becoming part of oneworld, greatly enhancing the leading quality global airline alliance’s Chinese network.

As a oneworld affiliate member, Dragonair now offers the alliance’s full range of services and benefits. This means its frequent flyers can from today earn and redeem mileage awards on all other oneworld carriers. Top-tier members now have access to the 500 airport lounges worldwide offered by the alliance’s airlines.

Members of other oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programmes can also now earn and redeem awards and receive all other oneworld benefits on Dragonair.

Dragonair’s network - which covers more destinations in Mainland China, at 19 in total, than any other airline not based there, with some 400 flights a week - is now also covered by oneworld’s extensive range of alliance fares.

Twelve of those Mainland China destinations - Chongqing, Changsha, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Haikou, Kunming, Guilin, Ningbo, Nanjing, Shenyang, Sanya and Wuhan - are new to the oneworld network, taking the number of destinations the alliance serves in Mainland China to 22.

Three Dragonair destinations elsewhere are also new to the oneworld network - Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Phuket (Thailand). By adding Phnom Penh, oneworld will connect with one new country - Cambodia. From 2 December, it will serve Nepal’s Khatmandu - adding one more country and destination to oneworld’s timetable.

While it is now part of the Cathay Pacific group, Dragonair has retained its own brand and identity, market positioning and separate “KA” flight code.

It is the 11th carrier to board oneworld this year, in the alliance’s biggest expansion programme since its launch. Japan Airlines and five of its affiliates, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian Airlines all joined on 1 April, along with affiliates LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador.

oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said: “Since its launch eight years ago, oneworld has been the only alliance with a member from greater China, in our Hong Kong-based founder member Cathay Pacific. The addition of Dragonair means that oneworld will maintain its lead in this important, fast-growing region. With our combination of Dragonair, Cathay Pacific and the award-winning Hong Kong hub, it means that oneworld will offer the best quality airline service for travel to or from the whole of China.”

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: “We are delighted that Dragonair is now an affiliate member of oneworld, offering alliance passengers greater access to a wider range of destinations in Mainland China. As one of the founder members of oneworld, Cathay Pacific recognises the value of being part of this grouping of high-quality airlines and we are sure Dragonair’s joining will add value for alliance customers and fellow member airlines alike.”

Dragonair Chief Executive Officer Kenny Tang added: “Becoming an affiliate member of oneworld is an exciting development for Dragonair and is yet another benefit to result from our joining the Cathay Pacific group. We are pleased that oneworld customers will be able to connect through Hong Kong to our extensive network of destinations in Mainland China, along with the other business and leisure destinations we serve within the Asia Pacific region.”
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