• Editor’s note: With today’s major announcement, Alaska Airlines officially breaks their long-standing strategy of airline partnership neutrality, where they teamed with individual airline relationships rather than joining one of the major alliances.
• Alaska Air will now join Seattle’s OneWorld partners Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and British Airways.
• American Airlines announced new nonstop flights from Seattle to Bangalore, India and to London -Heathrow,
• Alaska was to sever ties with American next month, now further enhances their tie-up.
• Clearly Delta Airlines effectiveness in building an international Seattle hub after Alaska Air severed ties with Delta several years ago has led to their surprising decision to join an airline alliance.
• Click here for the Alaska Airlines news release.
• SkyTeam with members Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Air France/ KLM and Korean Air will still remain Seattle’s largest international alliance with the most international nonstop flights from Sea-Tac. See Virgin Atlantic’s promo below just out today.
• Competition means more choices for the flying public and Sea-Tac travelers are the beneficiary!

“Alaska Airlines plans to join Oneworld, forms alliance with American”

“It’s true, the enemy of my enemy is my friend — at least in Seattle.

“Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, both facing competitive challenges from Delta Air Lines, are tying the knot with an extensive new partnership. The tie-up includes new routes between Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) and both Bangalore, India (BLR), and London Heathrow (LHR) that will be operated by American.

“And if that is not enough, Seattle-based Alaska intends to join Oneworld by mid-2021. The Oneworld alliance counts American, which helped found the alliance, as one of its anchor tenants.”

“One big question is how much Alaska and American can partner domestically under the conditions of Alaska’s 2016 merger with Virgin America. The Justice Department, in approving the merger, blocked Alaska from codesharing with American on routes where American and Virgin competed, as well as where Alaska was “likely to launch new service” after the merger.”

“Alaska has faced increasing difficulty landing travel contracts from large tech companies, like Amazon and Microsoft, who require international connectivity, said [Alaska senior vice president of finance, alliances and treasury Nathaniel] Pieper. ‘It’s very hard for us to compete for that, he said.

“The American partnership, and Oneworld membership, give Alaska the world when it comes to landing corporate customers,” by Edward Russell, The Points Guy. Read more

Virgin Atlantic promotes in Seattle their new alliance KLM and Air France

“Now this is something to celebrate. We’ve chosen to work with the best airlines flying across the globe to offer you even more choice, convenience and flexibility.

“We’re now officially partnered with Air France and KLM, adding to our fantastic relationship with Delta, and we couldn’t be more excited.

“With more than 340 daily flights to over 350 destinations across the UK, Europe and US,” from Virgin Atlantic’s e-mail today! Read more