Kingfisher Inks Deal To Join Oneworld

Oneworld today announced that Kingfisher Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for the Indian carrier to join the alliance in the second half of 2011.

Kingfisher will become Oneworld's 13th airline member assuming Russia's S7 Airlines finalizes its membership as expected this year.

Kingfisher's network had been focused solely on domestic Indian routes until 2008, when it began to grow internationally. The carrier now serves 70 destinations, 63 of which are within India, from its Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore hubs. Fifty-eight of the cities Kingfisher serves in India are untouched by any other Oneworld carrier.

Kingfisher said it applied to India's Ministry of Civil Aviation to approve its membership in the alliance. "A target date for Kingfisher Airlines to join the alliance will be confirmed once this approval is gained," Oneworld said in a statement. "The process to bring any airline on board normally takes around 18 months to complete, so Kingfisher Airlines could be expected to start flying as part of Oneworld during 2011."