Canadian to withdraw from oneworld on June 1

The oneworld™ airline alliance governing board has confirmed that Canadian Airlines International will no longer participate in the alliance or offer customer benefits as of June 1, 2000.

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

Since oneworld's launch in February 1999, Finnair and Iberia have joined. LanChile and Aer Lingus will also begin offering oneworld customer services and benefits in mid-2000.

These include 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.

The oneworld airlines serve more than 650 destinations around the world, and oneworld will continue to provide service to seven Canadian cities with 64 daily flights. Underscoring its commitment to Canada, oneworld also recently announced the creation of a central management team to be based in Vancouver.

Don Carty, Chairman and Chief Executive of American Airlines and current chairman of the alliance's governing board, said: "Canada will continue to play an important part in oneworld's network. Canadian 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 recognized as the world's premier airline network."

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