The oneworld airline alliance has signed up a first partner for its new oneworld connect membership platform. The new connect partner is Fiji Airways, and the alliance says it is in discussion with other carriers interested in participating in the programme, from various parts of the world including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

oneworld connect is the first new membership platform unveiled by oneworld since the alliance was originally announced 20 years ago.

As oneworld CEO Rob Gurney explains, with fewer potential new candidates available to recruit based on established membership criteria, oneworld connect enables member airlines to link up with other airlines whose networks are relevant to a subset of our members, who cannot meet oneworld’s full membership requirements at this stage or who are not interested in full membership at present.

Each oneworld connect partner needs to have a minimum of three oneworld members as its sponsors to be initiated into the programme.  The initial oneworld sponsors of Fiji Airways will be all four of oneworld’s original founding members — American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.  The Australian carrier will additionally mentor Fiji Airways through its oneworld connect implementation process.

American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas already code-share and have frequent flyer links with Fiji Airways.  British Airways and Fiji Airways are currently discussing areas for potential bilateral cooperation.

oneworld connect partners 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.  Also, customers with Emerald or Sapphire status will be offered priority boarding.

Fiji Airways serves 21 destinations in 13 countries and territories, including oneworld hubs Sydney, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and, from next month, Tokyo. Its domestic and regional subsidiary Fiji Link flies to a further nine destinations across the Fijian and neighbouring Pacific Islands nations.