oneworld welcomes Japan Airlines' reaffirmation to the alliance

oneworld^® and its member airlines have warmly welcomed today's reaffirmation by Japan Airlines (JAL) of its membership of the alliance - and its intention to deepen working relationships with its partners in the grouping.  This ensures the continued participation of Asia-Pacific's leading airline in the world's leading quality airline alliance.

oneworld Governing Board Chairman, American Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard Arpey, said: "We respect this was an important decision for Japan Airlines and the government of Japan, and we believe they have made the right choice for JAL's many stakeholders, for Japan's national interests and for consumers.  American and its oneworld partners look forward to working with JAL to create an even stronger partnership through commercial enhancements and assistance that can generate important new revenue to JAL and support its successful restructuring."

British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh added: "During JAL's alliance review, British Airways and its oneworld partners have demonstrated our extraordinary commitment to JAL.  Today's decision brings stability and certainty to JAL at a time when it is most needed, providing the greatest long-term value at the lowest risk.  We are delighted that we can now progress with our colleagues at JAL in strengthening our ties and co-operation still further and help re-establish JAL firmly as Asia-Pacific's and one of the world's leading airlines."

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: "This is great news for oneworld, Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.  We are very pleased we can all move ahead in building oneworld as the pre-eminent and highest quality alliance for Asia and the world, for the benefit of our customers and all our other stakeholders."

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce commented:  "As a long-standing partner of JAL's, Qantas is pleased that it has decided to remain within oneworld.  We believe oneworld is clearly the right strategic alliance option for JAL, providing both commercial stability and growth opportunities at a vital time for the airline.  Qantas looks forward to working with the new JAL leadership team, together with our oneworld partners, as it lays the foundations for long-term viability and success."

oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch, on behalf of all other airlines in the alliance, stated: "Japan Airlines is a highly valued member of oneworld and all its member airlines so we very much welcome today's confirmation of the airline's continued membership of our alliance.  We now look forward to working with JAL, under its new management team led by its new Chairman and Chief Executive Kazuo Inamori and President Masaru Onishi, to implement the proposals we have presented to deepen our co-operation, delivering the best alliance potential to the airline, its customers and employees, the government and taxpayers of Japan and the travelling public at large."

Gerard Arpey noted that American and JAL would now focus on building a joint venture that could offer JAL significant revenue growth beyond the stability that oneworld offers today.  In the coming days, American would work with JAL's new management team to finalise a joint application for anti-trust immunity (ATI) across the Pacific, to be filed with the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

• For JAL's statement today, see http://press.jal.co.jp/en/

• For American Airlines' press release in response to JAL's decision today, see http://aa.mediaroom.com/

• For details of the proposals made by its oneworld partners to deepen their co-operation with JAL, see http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=20395

About oneworld

oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas and Royal Jordanian, and around 20 affiliates including American Eagle, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru.  Russia's S7 Airlines will join the alliance in 2010.

Between them, these airlines:

• Serve almost 750 airports in nearly 150 countries, with some 8.500 daily departures.
• Offer nearly 550 airport lounges for premium customers.
• Carry some 330 million passengers a year.
• Employ 300.000 people.
• Operate almost 2.500 aircraft.
• Generate some US$100 billion annual revenues in total.

It is the only alliance with any airlines based in South America, Australia or Asia's Middle East.

oneworld enables its members to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own.  These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges.   oneworld also offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors.

oneworld was voted the World's Leading Airline Alliance for the seventh year running in the latest (2009) World Travel Awards.   It is the only winner of this award since it was introduced in 2003.