Qatar Airways joins oneworld

Qatar Airways has announced that the airline becomes part of oneworld, an alliance of the world’s leading airlines, at midnight Doha time (21:00 UTC/GMT) tonight.

Oneworld is an alliance of the world’s leading airlines that allows special privileges to member travellers, including access to more than 550 airport lounges and extra baggage allowances, along with the use of fast track security lanes at select airports to its most regular travellers.

Qatar Airways states that it will be offering oneworld’s full range of services and benefits starting from its Qatar Airways 777 bound from Dhaka tomorrow night, also the first aircraft to land at Doha’s new Hamad International Airport.

At a ceremony to mark its entry into oneworld held at Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways spectacularly “unveiled” the first aircraft in its fleet to be decorated in a special oneworld livery.

Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker described becoming a member of oneworld as one of the most significant landmarks in Qatar Airways’ history.

“It will strengthen our competitive offering and give our customers what they fully deserve – more choice across a truly global network served together with airline partners who include some of the best and biggest in the world,” Akbar Al Baker said.

Qatar Airways states that the airline joins oneworld just one year after receiving its invitation to join, which makes its induction into oneworld one of the fastest in the alliance’s history. Qatar Airways is also the only major Gulf carrier to join a global airline alliance.