Annual Report 1999 in PDF - Aer Lingus

Strategic AlliancesIn November 1999 Aer Lingus concluded alliance agreements with both American Airlines andBritish Airways. Among the elements of these co-operative agreements were frequent flyerprogramme reciprocity, lounge access interchange and code-sharing across a range of keyroutes.Following the completion of these bilateral agreements, on 1 June 2000 Aer Lingus becamethe eighth member of the oneworld global alliance. This alliance now comprises Aer Lingus,American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Qantas and Lan Chile. In itsfirst year of operation oneworld member airlines carried almost 200 million passengers. Thealliance now serves over 550 destinations in more than 130 countries across the globe.Entry to the oneworld global alliance comes at a critical stage in the commercial developmentof Aer Lingus and we expect that the additional traffic accruing will further boost the growthachieved by the airline over recent years.Aer Lingus’ entry into oneworld coincided with the launch of the Irish element of an integratedglobal marketing communications campaign.The oneworld alliance offers customers benefits that are additional to the airlines’ individualnetworks, with enhanced travel options for customers and an integrated service for a growingcustomer base. The vision of the alliance is to make global travel easier and more rewarding forthe customer.Agreements between oneworld airlines enable customers to benefit from:• access to the global networks of oneworld carriers;• better customer service support, with oneworld staff trained and equipped to assistcustomers of all member airlines throughout the network;• smoother transfers across the networks of all member airlines;• closer linking of oneworld members’ frequent flyer programmes enabling customers toearn and redeem miles on any of the alliance carriers;• access to over 340 member airlines’ lounges for eligible frequent flyer club members.Aer Lingus membership of the alliance is already delivering benefits to Aer Lingus and itscustomers.14