May a once-niche Canadian airline be the following member of the Oneworld alliance?
Porter Airways appears to be pondering the thought.
Over the previous two years, the Toronto-based provider has struck up partnerships with each Alaska Airways and, most just lately, American Airways — the 2 Oneworld carriers primarily based within the U.S.
These tie-ups enable Atmos Rewards and American Airways AAdvantage members to redeem their factors and miles on sure Porter flights.
Porter additionally has partnerships with a bunch of worldwide Oneworld airways, together with British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airways and new Oneworld member Fiji Airways.
It is usually shortly rising its route map and fleet of airplanes.
Requested this week if the provider would contemplate taking the proverbial plunge and becoming a member of the most important international alliance, Porter’s high government sounded … intrigued, at minimal.
“We’re forming relationships with numerous Oneworld carriers proper now,” Kevin Jackson, president of Porter Airways, mentioned throughout an look on the Skift Aviation Discussion board in Texas on Dec. 3. “The companions which can be accessible to make use of are clearly Oneworld. Oneworld doesn’t have a presence in Canada, and Porter would make a really apparent reply to that if we select to affix.”
To Jackson’s level, Canada’s flag provider, Air Canada, is a member of the Star Alliance (which incorporates United Airways within the U.S.). Which means Porter would probably go for one of many different two main international alliances — if it decides to affix one in any respect.
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And, at this level, Jackson mentioned that the airline continues to be on the fence about whether or not it is .
What Porter becoming a member of Oneworld would imply for US vacationers
If Porter determined to affix Oneworld, it could probably imply way more alternatives for Atmos Rewards and American Airways AAdvantage members to earn and redeem factors and miles on Porter-operated flights and reciprocal loyalty advantages for elite standing flyers.
It may additionally open up distinctive, new connecting itineraries for long-haul journeys: Think about flying Porter from the U.S. to Toronto after which connecting onto a British Airways flight to London, all booked with Avios you transferred from, say, your American Specific Membership Rewards account.
Removed from a achieved deal
In any case, that is a good distance off.
Becoming a member of an airline alliance is a prolonged and complicated course of and requires help from member airways.
Porter stays a smaller provider than the large Oneworld gamers, with a fleet of planes no greater than regional-size jets that flies a North America-focused community.
On the identical time, the provider gives intensive attain in Canada, flying to standard locations like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, and a premium aptitude on its fleet of brand-new Embraer 195-E2 jets.
It is also on a quick progress trajectory within the U.S. Regardless of journey demand challenges between the U.S. and Canada, Porter’s complete seats to the U.S. have been up almost 24% from final yr, based on knowledge from aviation analytics agency Cirium.
Add within the provider’s current relationships with a number of of the biggest-name Oneworld airways, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Porter could possibly be the following alliance member — maybe following within the footsteps of current additions Fiji Airways and Oman Air.
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