aword from oneworld: October 2005

oneworld members sweep the board at in-flight entertainment 'Oscars': oneworld^TM members swept the board at this year's "Oscars" for airline in-flight entertainment, taking seven of the 12 Avion awards handed out by the World Airline Entertainment Association. Carriers from other alliances received two awards between them.

Among oneworld's winners, Qantas took top honours as Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment (Large Fleet) and returned to the winners' podium for Best In-Flight Magazine and Best In-Flight Entertainment Magazine. American Airlines was top for Best Shorthaul In-Flight Video Programming and for Single In-Flight Audio Programme, and was a runner-up in the Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment (Large Fleet) category. Cathay Pacific took the award for Best Longhaul In-Flight Video Programming. LAN was also honoured, as runner-up for Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment for an airline with fewer than 50 aircraft.

The Avion awards are presented each year by the World Airline Entertainment Association, which represents almost a hundred airlines and more than 250 suppliers. The 25-member international judging panel included leading media executives, critics, producers, editors, and academics from around the world. Their selections are based on "originality," "suitability," "production value," "content," and "balance."

American moves into new international terminal at its Dallas/Fort Worth hub: American Airlines will move its international operations at its Dallas/Fort Worth hub into its new international facility Terminal D on Saturday 29 October. American itself will use 19 of the terminal's 28 gates while its American Eagle regional affiliate will have access to other gates when they are not in use by foreign carriers. The two serve 32 international points from DFW. The US$1.2 billion facility, which offers 2 million sq ft of passenger space and 67 retail outlets and restaurants, is connected to the airport's other terminals by a new Skylink transit system, which travels right through the centre of the building.

LAN simplifies its fare structure: As part of its efforts to provide customers a better, simpler and more efficient service, LAN has reduced its fare structure to only seven fare types, based on seven different characteristics. The move is aimed at making its fares more easy to understand and to streamline significantly procedures for travel agents. It will also facilitate more processes to be automated, enabling customers to to carry them out on-line, saving time and hassle.The Latin American airline has also standardized its baggage allowances. Since 1 October, passengers on any of its flights have been able to check-in for free up to 20 kgs in economy class, 30 kgs in business and 40 kgs in first class. The only exception is the USA and Oceania, where the free allowance are two bags of up to 32 kilograms each (70 pounds). For further details, see http://www7.lan.com/reservas/informacion_de_tarifas/index.html

American Eagle to link JFK and Chicago O'Hare hubs: Affiliate American Eagle is to launch flights between the alliance's New York JFK and Chicago O'Hare hubs from 15 December with an initial two round trips a day by Embraer ERJ140s.

oneworld in brief: oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus, plus their dozen affiliates - enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges. oneworld is the only alliance to enable passengers to fly throughout its network, on any combination of carriers, using just electronic tickets. oneworld was voted the world's best airline alliance by readers of Business Traveller magazine for the second year running in its 2005 poll and the World's Leading Airline Alliance for the second year running in the latest World Travel Awards, based on votes cast by80,000 travel agency professionalsfrom more than 200 countries. It is also the only alliance whose members reported collective profits last year. Note: LAN affiliates LAN ECUADOR and LAN ARGENTINA are not members of oneworld.

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