Despite vehement and even angry protests by Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways will be joining Oneworld sponsored by British Airways.   The expectation is that Qatar should be a fully integrated member in 12 to 18 months.

This brings a few questions out into the open.  First and foremost, why did QANTAS partner with Emirates in light of the knowledge it had to have had about Qatar Airways joining the alliance?  Does this spell the end of QANTAS in Oneworld?

I think QANTAS will remain in Oneworld for the time being but this does leave Oneworld a bit weak with a founding member not fully aligned with its alliance partnerships.

One wonders if the CEOs of Oneworld fully considered just who they were inviting into their parlor when it comes to Akbar Al Baker.  He is outspoken, a critic of the status quo and known for his angry outbursts and changes of opinion.

And you have to wonder what Al Baker saw in Oneworld.  Oneworld is made up of several airlines that, so far, have struggled more than most in changing with the world.  British Airways / Iberia (IAG) hasn’t exactly taken over Europe.  American Airlines is in bankruptcy.  QANTAS walked away from British Airways and into the arms of Emirates.  Cathay Pacific is . . . Cathay Pacific.  Nothing special.

And Qatar offers a PR coup, for sure, and an airline with an impeccable service product but it isn’t Etihad or Emirates and its Doha hub is less ideal than Emirates’ Dubai hub as a destination.  The airline has a widely varying fleet and I wouldn’t expect much harmony in the fleet for the future as Qatar has orders for wildly differing aircraft.

I think the PR is good for Oneworld, I think Qatar joining isn’t all that much added value in the grand scheme of things.  Qatar doesn’t bring a scale that would help as much as other airlines would.

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