The oneworld airline alliance governing board has confirmed that Canadian Airlines will no longer participate in the alliance or offer customer benefits as of 1 June, 2000. oneworld will continue to provide services to more than 650 destinations around the world including serving seven Canadian cities with 64 daily flights.

Canadian Airlines was a founding member of oneworld, along with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas. Canadian Airlines announced late last year that it would withdraw from oneworld after it was purchased by Air Canada.

“Canada will continue to play an important part in oneworld`s network,” said Don Carty, Chief Executive of American Airlines and the Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board. “Canadian Airlines played an important role in the launch of oneworld, and while we regret their departure, we remain focused on providing enhanced benefits and services to our passengers so that we are recognised as the world`s premier airline network.”

Cathay Pacific will continue to serve this important market by flying daily to Toronto and twice daily from Hong Kong to Vancouver,” said Tony Tyler, Cathay Pacific`s Director Corporate Development. “We remain very committed to Canada and with our oneworld partners are actively looking at various options to maintain Cathay Pacific`s high profile.”

Underscoring its commitment to Canada, oneworld also recently announced the creation of a management office that will be housed in Vancouver.

oneworld provides a wide range of service benefits including linked frequent flyer programmes and benefits, reciprocal access to airport clubs and lounges, priority boarding and recognition for top-tier frequent flyers, and global customer service, check-in and reservations services. Since its launch in February 1999, Finnair and Iberia have joined, and LanChile and Aer Lingus will begin offering oneworld customer services in mid-2000.

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