Oneworld CEO on Indigo, Starlux membership

Oneworld recently signed up Hawaiian Airlines as its 15th member, and Philippine Airlines will swell the roster to 16 late next year.

Is there room around the table for two more chairs, in Taiwan’s Starlux and India’s IndiGo?

Alliance CEO Ole Orvér says he’s not chasing growth for the sake of growth alone.

“In general, we don’t have an ambition to grow Oneworld necessarily,” Orvér tells Executive Traveller on the sidelines of a media event in Honolulu marking Hawaiian Airlines’ entry into the Oneworld family.

Hawaiian Airlines is a natural fit for Oneworld.

While not the largest alliance in sheer numbers – that crown belongs to Star Alliance and its 26-strong roster – Oneworld maintains a strong premium footprint in all the major destinations.

“We are the biggest alliance in the biggest markets,” Orvér maintains, “and then our Emerald tier” – which he considers almost a secret weapon for frequent flyers – “that brings a real premium touch.”

IndiGo is “alliance-neutral”

That said, Orvér agrees that India remains “a white space” on the alliance’s map, but he sees no immediate change.

“There are two big airlines, one being a member of a competing alliance” – that’s Air India, which belongs to Star Alliance – “and the other one is Indigo, which is very sort of ‘alliance-neutral’” through strategic partnerships across a number of airlines.

In fact, IndiGo is the nation’s largest airline, holding over 60% of India's domestic aviation market with a fleet of over 440 aircraft connecting more than 95 domestic and 40 international destinations.

IndiGo is shaking off its budget roots with this A321neo and A321XLR business class product.

While traditionally a low-cost carrier, IndiGo is evolving into a ‘hybrid’ mid-market airline with premium cabins and 60 long-range twin-aisle Airbus A350 jets due from 2027 – all in line with its ambition “to become a global airline by 2030.”

But for now, at least publicly, Orvér isn’t pinning any hopes on IndiGo.

“So there’s not too much choice on the airline side, which is one reason we also went forward with our Taj Hotels partnership – to bring something for our customers and also bring something for people residing in India when they want to travel the world.”

Also read: Oneworld eyes new lounges, and taking over existing ones 

Starlux waiting in the wings

Taiwan’s Starlux has made no secret of its desire to join Oneworld – especially as rivals China Airlines and EVA Air belong to SkyTeam and Star Alliance, respectively.

Starlux is waiting for a boarding call from Oneworld.

Also read: Starlux locks in A330neo for Sydney, Auckland flights

And while it could face opposition from Cathay Pacific – which counts Taiwan among its largest markets in Asia – Chairman Chang Kuo-wei assured a shareholder’s meeting in May that the airline would “one day” join the alliance.

“I saw that,” Orvér smiles, but “none of the airline CEOs, who are my bosses, have told me ‘you need to grow the alliance’.”

“What they do want is for us to ensure a seamless, premium experience.”

“So we want Oneworld to be an extension of your favourite airline – whichever Oneworld airline that is – even when you need to go somewhere on the planet where that favourite airline cannot bring you.”

Also read: Oneworld CEO says “this year” for alliance-wide upgrades

David Flynn travelled to Honolulu as a guest of Hawaiian Airlines and Oneworld.