Members of oneworld, the leading international global airline alliance, operating at Zurich moved into…
Members of oneworld, the leading international global airline alliance, operating at Zurich moved into passenger facilities at the airport this week featuring new amenities developed especially for them. The transfer is one of the alliance`s largest co-location moves yet.
Four of oneworld`s eight carriers serve the Swiss city. American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia moved into facilities with new, bigger and better amenities on April 1, and British Airways followed April 2.
The new check-in desks and ticket counters are in the airport`s Check-in Area 1 (formerly known as Terminal A), at the end adjacent to Check-in Area 2 (formerly known as Terminal B) where they are currently housed.
Flights by British Airways, Finnair and Iberia will now depart from Pier A (formerly called Terminal A) and arrive at Arrival Hall 1. American`s services will continue to leave from Pier B (formerly called Terminal B) until September, when new facilities are completed in Pier A to comply with security regulations for flights to the U.S.
With the change of terminal, British Airways will close its Terraces Lounge in Pier B. Instead, its premium passengers — along with those of Finnair and Iberia — will be able to use the Swiss lounge in Pier A. American Airlines` premium passengers will continue to have access to the Swissport lounge in Pier B.
The four airlines will share the 12 new custom-built check-in desks. Of the eight ticket counters, four will be dedicated to British Airways and two each to American and Iberia, with Finnair sales at the airport represented by its oneworld partners. All the new facilities will bear the logos of the four airlines and oneworld.
oneworld Vice President Customer Experience Ricardo Milani said: This move forms part of oneworld`s overall strategy of bringing its member airlines together at airports around the world when it means improved services for customers and reduced costs for the carriers. At Zurich, our four on-line carriers will be able to offer their passengers much better facilities, while enjoying significant efficiencies themselves.
oneworld carriers operate a total of 34 flights most days to and from Zurich:
- American Airlines — Dallas/Fort Worth and New York JFK, both daily.
- British Airways — London Heathrow six a day and Manchester twice daily, with one of these flights extending to Glasgow.
- Finnair — Helsinki twice daily.
- Iberia — Madrid three times a day, Barcelona twice daily.
>From these oneworld hub airports, the alliance`s carriers together offer flights to a total of 135 territories worldwide — more than any other airline alliance offers — and more than 550 destinations.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
