Two-letter code to search for flights by any oneworld alliance member airline changes to *O

03 mars 2003

The two-letter code used to search in the travel industry's computer reservations systems for flights operated by any member of the oneworld™ global airline alliance has been changed, with effect from 1 March, to *O.

The switch – from OW - brings oneworld into line with the other main global airline alliances, which both already use an asterisk and a single letter for searches of their members' schedules.

The facility enables travel agents and others using the global distribution systems to seek with just one instruction flights offered by all eight member airlines of the alliance - Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas - rather than having to do so individually by each carrier.

Between them, oneworld's airlines serve more countries than any global airline alliance, with flights more than 8 500 departures a day to 570 destinations in 135 countries.

Members of any oneworld airline's frequent flyer scheme can earn awards and points on eligible fares and redeem them throughout this network.

oneworld was named the world's Best Airline Alliance by some of the world's most frequent flyers at the 2002 Business Traveller Awards, believed to be the first award for this sector of the travel industry.

The eight airlines and their affiliates carried more than 225 million passengers last year on a combined fleet of almost 2 000 aircraft, earning revenues of some US$50 billion.

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