MAS unveils 'oneworld' aircraft

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) introduced a new 'oneworld'-themed aircraft in a symbolic move to mark the joining of the company into the 'oneworld' global airline alliance.

MAS yesterday announced that it would be having a two-day celebration in conjunction with the official entry to the alliance at midnight (February 1).

MAS’s historic move to join the 'oneworld' alliance is both regarded as significant and strategic.

The new aircraft (MH129), which is one of MAS’ 10 latest Airbus A330-300s, will be flying its maiden commercial flight to Melbourne, Australia on February 1.

MAS will also begin offering the services and benefits under its 'oneworld' programme starting tomorrow.

Present at the ceremony were MAS group chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, 'oneworld' CEO Bruce Ashby and Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce.

The 'oneworld' alliance will allow MAS access to 840 destinations in 155 countries under a shared flight code. In this way, MAS passengers will now have more destination choices.

This is through a combined fleet of some 2,500 aircraft which makes some 9,000 departures a day carrying nearly 340 million passengers a year.

'oneworld' members include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and Russia's S7 airlines.