Chaos And In Fighting, Inside The OneWorld Airline Alliance…

This all started with OneWorld alliance founder American Airlines. Circa 2015, the airline joined forces with compatriots United and Delta to launch the Partnership For Open & Fair Skies. If that sounds like a load of rubbish, it is. The program was designed to limit foreign airlines ability to operate new routes in the United States, and as many see it, to keep U.S. travelers from seeing how far behind the curve their airlines had become. The move was specifically directed toward Gulf airlines, which meant it was targeting American’s OneWorld partner, Qatar. First shot, fired.

Ah, the blockade. With favorable global political tailwind in their favor, Saudi Arabia sought to control influence in the Middle East in 2017 with a blockade against their Gulf opposition. The blockade was in partnership with Qatar’s neighbors in the United Arab Emirates. That specifically meant cutting off Qatar in the most malicious terms. No airspace rights over the UAE or Saudi Arabia for Qatari planes, no goods or services from either area and no flights either. Operating principle: cripple Qatar Airways.

As Qatar Airways became more profitable, their outlandish CEO became more outspoken. Akbar Al Baker famously stirred up alliance relations recently proclaiming that the airline may leave the OneWorld alliance, citing exactly the arguments made above. IAG boss Willie Walsh then noted it was actually a distinct possibility, and not just posturing. If an alliance is an association for mutual benefit, as it’s formally defined, Qatar wasn’t feeling it. Then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce effectively told Qatar to “do one”, by saying if they want to leave, they should just leave.  If that scenario were to play out, British Airways and Qatar would almost assuredly continue with their joint partnership. You’d think it ends there, but it’s still ramping up…

The beloved Hong Kong airline managed to avoid the fray for so long, but all good things come to an end. Qantas pursuit of direct point to point flights between the US, Europe and Australia are an existential threat to Cathay Pacific, and both airlines know it. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told the South China Morning Post “We’re going to compete vigorously. I think we’re frenemies with Cathay, there’s a bit of that”. Cathay Pacific is experiencing growing pains as the airline looks to cut cost, with its second consecutive annual loss. Direct point to point travel from Qantas would cut out Cathay Pacific’s “one stop” shop, a move which could worsen Cathay’s fate.

Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc is tipped to be announced as the newest OneWorld alliance member on December 5th, 2018. The airline has invested heavily in a fleet of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s and has increased U.S routes. Alaska Airlines is also expected to join as a “connect” member, which is a lighter form of membership. Will Qatar leave? Will Cathay threaten the same? For now, two new airlines are in the mix and this drama of the titans will continue…