US Airways to Leave Star Alliance March 1, Join Oneworld One Month Later
US Airways plans to leave Star Alliance, an airline alliance that includes United Airlines and Lufthansa, on or about March 1, 2014 and will become a member of the oneworld alliance approximately one month later, according to two people familiar with the matter.
US Airways plans to merge with American Airlines in December of this year.
A spokesman for US Airways would not confirm the dates.
Star Alliance, founded in 1997, is considered the world’s largest airline alliance and currently has 28 members. Oneworld, founded in 1999, has 13 current members. American Airlines is a founding member of oneworld.
US Airways will begin to align itself more closely with American after the merger closes. In an interview earlier this month, Scott Kirby, who will serve as the COO of the combined airline, told Frequent Business Traveler that January 7, 2014 will be “a big day for us.” “We will become a single airline or at least take the first step of becoming a single airline” on that day, and offer reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, he added.
Kirby also told Frequent Business Traveler that there was a “silver lining” to the delay that followed the Department of Justice’s antitrust suit that will result in a “more seamless customer interface” on January 7.
Following that date, the two airlines will continue the normal integration process and move towards obtaining a single operating certificate. The combined airline will be well prepared for integration because “our labor deals are largely done.” Kirby promises that “the process will be smoother than what you’ve seen in other mergers.”
(Photo: Accura Media Group)