Oneworld Membership to Reach Double digits in April

Japan Airlines, Malev Hungarian and Royal Jordanian will begin offering Oneworld service and benefits April 1 in the eight-member alliance’s biggest expansion since its creation eight years ago.

Oneworld said JAL was the largest airline in the world not aligned with a multilateral global alliance, and its addition will broaden Oneworld’s reach in Japan and the rest of Asia.

Aer Lingus is withdrawing from the alliance April 1 as it continues its focus on low-fare point-to-point passengers, so as April 1 Oneworld will have 10 full members.

Dragonair, LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador also are slated to join Oneworld this year, but as affiliate members.