A special double miles offer is being made to cardholders of all oneworld member airlines’ frequent flyer programmes – including those of airberlin’s topbonus programme – to mark the addition to the alliance today of Germany’s second biggest airline, along with its group member Austria’s NIKI.

airberlin has become became part of oneworld, adding the second biggest airline in Germany and the sixth biggest in the continent overall to the world’s premier global airline alliance. Austria’s NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, joined oneworld as an affiliate member at the same time - as the clocks struck midnight in Berlin this morning.

With immediate effect Christoph Horak will be in charge of sales for the airberlin group in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia as Regional Manager for the region. Horak has over 18 years of professional experience in sales, having previously worked for EVA AIR Vienna, Swissair/Sabena and NIKI, where he was already responsible for the same markets. Horak will report to the Regional Director for Eastern Europe, Stefan Magiera.

As part of airberlin’s membership of oneworld, which is planned to come into force on 20th March 2012, Germany’s second largest airline and fellow alliance member Japan Airlines (JAL) have signed a codeshare agreement.

airberlin will become a full member of oneworld from Tuesday March 20th, adding Europe’s sixth largest carrier to the global airline alliance. Austrian airline NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, will join oneworld at the same time as an affiliate member.

Etihad Airways and airberlin have confirmed they will integrate their frequent flyer programs as part of the rollout of their recent partnership. Etihad Airways is considered the World’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards.