oneworld was launched on 1 February 1999. Its aim as an alliance was to be the first-choice airline alliance for the world’s frequent international travellers. The first members of the airline were unveiled in 1998 – American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas. Canadian Airlines left the alliance a few years later when it merged with Air Canada, a Star Alliance member. Last year, across the alliance’s 14 members, oneworld welcomed 558 million passengers on a network of 1,000+ airports in 159 countries across 3,600+ routes on a fleet of 3,571 aircraft. Last year around 3.5 billion people flew around the world according to IATA, meaning that around 15%-16% of air travellers last year flew on a oneworld member aircraft.
American Airlines largest carrier
American Airlines is the largest member of oneworld, with the US carrier occupying just over 36% of the alliance’s monthly seat capacity. Its majority in the oneworld alliance has increased during the past 12 months, no doubt given to the airline’s merger with US Airways which was finalised in October last year, with the latter carrier having been a Star Alliance member until 2014. British Airways is the second largest airline in the alliance, with it occupying 9.6% of the alliance’s capacity. It should be noted however that if the totals of LATAM Airlines and LATAM Airlines Brasil were combined, it would be the second largest carrier with nearly 6.6 million seats.
Source: OAG Schedules Analyser data October 2016 v October 2015.
American Airlines top growth as well
In relation to growth, American is also the alliance’s fastest growing carrier. During the past 12-month period, the carrier’s seat capacity has grown by 28%, again no doubt due to the airline’s merger finalisation with US Airways last October. The significant increase represents a net gain of 4.5 million monthly one-way seats. Along with American, only Qatar Airways (fourth largest airline) and S7 Airlines (12th largest) have welcomed a double-digit increase in seat capacity, with the MEB3 airline reporting a growth in seats of nearly 15% and the Russian airline 17% respectively. Highlighted in light green are the four members of oneworld within the top 12 that are reporting capacity drops when compared to last year.
Outside of the top 12, a further three airlines are members of oneworld (although LATAM Airlines and LATAM Airlines Brasil are technically separate airlines they operate under the same brand). Finnair (13th largest airline) occupies 2.3% of the alliance’s monthly seat capacity, with Finland’s flag carrier reporting a 0.9% drop in seats during the past year. Srilankan Airlines (14th) has 0.8% of the alliance’s capacity, with its seat availability down 3.9%. The carrier to finalise the line-up of oneworld members is Royal Jordanian (15th), with it operating 0.7% of oneworld’s monthly departing seats. The flag carrier of Jordan has itself witnessed a drop in capacity, with its seat availability down 4.7% when compared to October last year.
Dallas/Fort Worth is number one hub; Charlotte Douglas climbs to third
After reporting a rise in seat capacity of 3.8% during the past 12 months, Dallas/Fort Worth remains the number one hub for oneworld. However, what should be noted is the exceptional growth of Charlotte Douglas. Last October the airport was the alliance’s ninth largest operation, however with American having now fully-merged with US Airways, the airport has climbed to third after a growth of nearly 103%, with the North Carolina hub now passing the two million monthly one-way seat capacity milestone.
