media information
oneworld alliance welcomes Mexicana on board
Monday, 9 November 2009: Mexicana becomes part of oneworld
®
at midnight tonight – adding Mexico
and Central America’s leading airline to the world’s leading quality airline alliance.
Its subsidiaries MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink join oneworld at the same time, as affiliate members.
All three airlines will offer the alliance’s full range of services and benefits from the first flights tomorrow.
They extend the oneworld network to almost 700 destinations in nearly 150 countries, with a combined
fleet of some 2,250 aircraft operating more than 8,000 flights a day, carrying 325 million passengers a
year, with annual revenues of US$100 billion.
A massive promotional programme is launched today to highlight the group’s addition to the alliance.
Mexicana is offering passengers flying with the airline in the next four weeks the chance to win a pair of
tickets for a trip of a lifetime right around the world, flying with its new oneworld partners. See separate
press release
A Mexicana Airbus A320 and MexicanaClick Boeing 717 are unveiled today at their Mexico City hub –
decorated in oneworld’s alliance livery. See separate press release
oneworld’s award-winning Travel and Charging Stations land for the first time in Latin America, installed
from today at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport. See separate press release
Mexicana’s market-leading Mexican and Central American network are covered from midnight tonight by
oneworld’s full and extensive range of alliance fares and sales products – including its new Visit Mexico
and Central America pass. See separate press release
oneworld alliance welcomes Mexicana on board…2
Mexicana’s addition comes a day after oneworld was named the World’s Leading Airline Alliance for the
seventh year running in the World Travel Awards. See separate press release
As it updates its website to mark the addition of Mexicana, oneworld is also enhancing its on-line
services to include a Spanish version of its popular round-the-world booking tool, an iPhone flight search
application
and a complete mobile website for customers using Blackberrys, iPhones and other
smartphones. See separate press release
As of tomorrow, members of the MexicanaGO frequent flyer programme can earn and redeem mileage
awards on all oneworld partners, who include some of the biggest and best airlines in the world –
American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines,
Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas and Royal Jordanian and almost 20 affiliated airline. Russia’s leading
domestic carrier S7 Airlines is on track to join during 2010.
MexicanaGO Conquer and Discover cardholders have oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status
respectively, gaining them access to some 550 airport lounges worldwide offered by the alliance’s
airlines. Mexicana Explore cardholders have oneworld Ruby status.
The 21,000 customers in these top three MexicanaGO tiers have been sent new membership cards,
bearing the oneworld logo, to ensure they receive their alliance benefits.
Also from midnight tonight, the 100 million members of the established oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer
programmes will be able to earn and redeem awards and tier status points and receive all other
oneworld benefits on Mexicana and its two affiliates.
As Mexicana joins oneworld, its logo will be added to thousands of oneworld signs at the 700 airports
worldwide on its member airlines’ networks, on the alliance’s its website and all oneworld branding used
in its and its member airlines’ advertising, publications and stationery, increasing awareness of Mexicana
in the near 150 countries served by the alliance’s carriers.
At the same time, Mexicana will be applying oneworld logos onto the fuselages of all 105 aircraft in its
combined fleet and featuring the alliance emblem wherever its own Mexicana logo is featured.
Senior executives from all oneworld’s member airlines gathered at Mexicana’s Mexico City base today to
welcome the alliance’s new recruit on board, led by:
Gerard Arpey, American Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive and current Chairman of oneworld’s
Governing Board.
Antonio Vazquez, Chairman and Chief Executive of Iberia, which has been serving as Mexicana’s
oneworld sponsor, supporting it through its alliance joining programme.
John McCulloch, oneworld Managing Partner.
oneworld Governing Board Chairman, American Airlines Chief Executive Gerard Arpey, said: “oneworld
is very selective about who we invite on board to join us as a new member. We only consider airlines
with brands that match the quality of our established partners, who share our priorities of safety,
customer service and profitability and who can expand our existing combined network in key regions,
rather than simply replicating what we already offer. As the leading carrier in Mexico and Central
America, Mexicana more than fits the bill. We are delighted to be welcoming it and its customers on
board oneworld.”
Iberia Chairman and Chief Executive Antonio Vázquez said: “Iberia has been honoured to act as
Mexicana’s sponsor into oneworld, a process that has reinforced the excellent relations between both
airlines. Mexicana will considerably strengthen oneworld’s long established position as the leading
airline alliance in the Spanish-speaking world and in Latin America, making it easier for more customers
to reach more places more easily and for better value with some of the world’s best airlines.”
more
oneworld alliance welcomes Mexicana on board…3
Mexicana Chief Executive Officer Manuel Borja said: “As a member of oneworld, we can now offer our
customers more choice and convenience, a much more extensive global network, more opportunities to
earn and redeem frequent flyer rewards, more lounges, more customer service support and better value
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services and benefits beyond the reach of any individual airline. For Mexicana and our employees,
becoming part of oneworld, flying alongside some of the most respected names in the airline industry
worldwide, strengthens our position considerably in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
About Mexicana
Mexicana is the leading carrier in Mexico and Central America. With affiliates MexicanaClick and
MexicanaLink, it serves 14 countries and 67 destinations – 37 of them in Mexico. Mexicana itself flies to
41 destinations in 14 countries, including 11 destinations in Mexico. MexicanaClick’s network
encompasses 29 destinations in Mexico, plus Havana (Cuba), and MexicanaLink operates to 18
destinations in Mexico.
The mainline Mexicana operates 63 aircraft – 26 Airbus A320s, 21 A319s, 10 A318s, two A330s, two
Boeing 767-200s and two Boeing 767-300s. They make more than 200 departures a day, using the two-
letter airline code MX. Mexicana offers two classes –
Executive
and Economy –
with in-flight
entertainment screens throughout the fleet and complimentary in-flight meals and drinks in both cabins.
MexicanaClick operates 24 Fokker 100s and six Boeing 717s, making 160 departures a day. Its Fokker
100s operate a single “Coach plus” style cabin, with leather-covered seats at a 35 ins (89 cm) pitch. Its
717s offer two cabins –
Executive and Economy. All passengers are offered complimentary in-flight
drinks and snacks.
MexicanaLink operates 12 new-generation Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets with more on order. They
offer more than 70 departures a day.
Mexicana boarded 8.3 million passengers in 2008, with MexicanaClick carrying another 3.4 million. The
group employs 8,400 staff.
Mexico City - the world’s second most populous metropolis - is the airlines’ main hub, with Cancun and
Guadalajara secondary hubs.
Mexicana has just completed the migration of its main IT platforms to Amadeus Altea -
alongside
oneworld partners British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Qantas, with
Cathay Pacific also committed to transfer to this provider soon.
Among Mexicana’s most important bilateral alliance relationships are those with oneworld’s American
Airlines and Iberia, including code-sharing, frequent flyer links and through check-in. Before joining
oneworld, it had also established bilateral relationships with four of the alliance’s other existing partners -
Cathay Pacific (frequent flyer), Japan Airlines (frequent flyer, code-sharing and through check-in), LAN
(frequent flyer and through check-in) and Qantas (code-sharing, frequent flyer and through check-in).
Among its most recent awards, it was named World Travel Awards’ Best Airline Mexico and Central
America for the 11th year running, Best Business Class Latin America for the third year running and Best
Internet Site in Latin America (all in 2007), and Best Airline in Mexico for two years running by Global
Traveler magazine.
Mexicana is one of the world’s most experienced airlines, starting service in July 1921.
It was privatised in December 2005, and is now owned by a consortium of Mexican private investors.
Mexicana was elected a oneworld member designate in April 2008.
more
oneworld alliance welcomes Mexicana on board…4
About oneworld
oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines,
British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas
and Royal Jordanian, and around 20 affiliates including American Eagle, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN
Ecuador and LAN Peru. Mexicana and its affiliates MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink will join the
alliance on 10 November 2009 and Russia’s S7 Airlines in 2010.
Between them, these airlines:
Serve almost 750 airports in nearly 150 countries, with some 8,500 daily departures.
Offer nearly 550 airport lounges for premium customers.
Carry some 330 million passengers a year.
Employ 300,000 people.
Operate almost 2,500 aircraft.
Generate some US$100 billion annual revenues in total.
It is the only alliance with any airlines based in Australia, South America or Asia’s Middle East.
The alliance enables its members 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 also offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors.
oneworld was voted the World's Leading Airline Alliance for the seventh year running in the latest (2009)
World Travel Awards. It is the only winner of this award since it was introduced in 2003.
For further media information, contact:
oneworld
Michael Blunt,
VP Corp Comms
+44 7711 997487
mblunt@oneworld.com
Mexicana
Adolfo Crespo, Senior VP
Customer Service and
Corpprate Comms
+5255 5448 3296
adolfo.crespo@mexicana.com
American Airlines
Corporate
Communications
+1 817 967 1577
corp.comm@aa.com
British Airways
Press Office
+44 20 8738 5100
media.relations@ba.com
Cathay Pacific
Corporate
Communications
+852 2747 8282
Finnair
Corporate
Communications
+358 981 84970
Iberia
Communications
+34 91 587 7462
prensaintl@Iberia.es
JAL
Szehunn Yap
+81 3 5460 3109
sze_hunn.yap@jal.com
LAN
Corporate
Communications
+562 565 3975
Malév
Adam Hegedus,
Corporate Comms
+36 1 235 3247
hegedus.adam@malev.hu
Qantas
Corporate
Communications
+61 2 9691 3473
qantasmedia@qantas.com.au
Royal Jordanian
Iman Rihani or Basel
Kilani, PR
+962 6 520 2060 / 2062
iman.rihani@rj.com / basel.kilani@rj.com
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