INDIA’S leading airline, Kingfisher, will join the Oneworld airline alliance and launch a partnership with British Airways, alliance executives said in Berlin on Monday (June 7).

“In just five years, Kingfisher Airlines has become the first airline in India with more 380 daily destinations,” British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh told a press conference.

“We will sign a code sharing in Europe for implementing later this month,” he added.

Code sharing allows airlines to offer services provided by partners and thus expand their networks.

With Kingfisher on board, the oneworld network will expand to some 800 destinations in almost 150 countries, with the addition of 56 Indian cities.

“We believe we are very well positioned, in the best position in the region today with Cathay Pacific. Of course we will continue to look for opportunities,” said Gerard Arpey of American Airlines, another member of the oneworld alliance.

Oneworld executives said however that there were no plans at present to add another Chinese carrier to the network.

The press briefing was held on the sidelines of a general assembly of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).