Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) has become the first carrier to sign up for the recently unveiled Oneworld Connect initiative unveiled during the ongoing IATA 2018 AGM in Sydney, Australia.
According to the global alliance, Oneworld Connect will provide select alliance benefits to frequent flyers from any oneworld member airline travelling on their flights, with a more extensive range of benefits offered with their oneworld sponsors.
Customers with Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme will be able to use priority check-in desks, where available. All Oneworld Connect partners will make their networks available via Global Explorer, the round-the-world fare offered by all oneworld members and select other airlines. Fiji Airways already does so.
All oneworld connect partners will also be required to maintain IATA IOSA safety certification.
“Fiji Airways is thrilled and honoured to be the first oneworld connect partner globally," Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen said in a statement. "We are delighted to link Fiji, and the South Pacific to the world’s premier airline alliance and deepening our relationships in particular with Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways (BA, London Heathrow), and Cathay Pacific. This important step for our airline enables us to offer more services and benefits to our own customers along with the others in the oneworld family, to achieve a greater presence for our airline internationally and to build on the in-bound tourism that is so vital to our home nation and our region.”
Oneworld will announce in due course when Fiji Airways will start offering oneworld connect services and benefits.
Discussions with other carriers interested in participating in the programme, from various parts of the world including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, are currently ongoing.
