oneworld airlines change terminals at Zurich

2003 年 3 月 31 日

Members of oneworld™, the leading international global airline alliance, operating at Zurich move their passenger facilities this week into new amenities at the airport developed specially for them. The transfer is one of the grouping's largest co-location moves yet.

Four of oneworld's eight carriers serve the Swiss city. American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia move into the new, bigger and better facilities tomorrow (Tuesday, 1 April), with British Airways following the next day (Wednesday, 2 April).

The new check-in desks and ticket counters are in the airport's Check-in Area 1 (formerly known as Terminal A), at the end adjacent to Check-in Area 2 (formerly known as Terminal B) where they are currently housed.

Flights by British Airways, Finnair and Iberia will now depart from Pier A (formerly called Terminal A) and arrive at Arrival Hall 1. American Airlines services will continue to leave from Pier B (formerly called Terminal B) until September, until new facilities are built in Pier A to comply with security regulations for flights to the USA.

With the change of terminal, British Airways will close its Terraces Lounge in Pier B (formerly Terminal B). Instead, its premium passengers – along with those of Finnair and Iberia - will be able to use the Swiss lounge in Pier A (Terminal A). American Airlines' premium passengers will continue to have access to the Swissport lounge in Pier B (formerly Terminal B).

The four airlines will share the 12 new custom-built check-in desks. Of the eight ticket counters, four will be dedicated to British Airways and two each to American and Iberia, with Finnair sales at the airport represented by its oneworld partners. All the new facilities will bear the logos of the four airlines and oneworld.

For employees of the airlines, the transfer of terminals will also mean new, larger offices.

oneworld Vice-President Customer Experience Ricardo Milani said: "This move forms part of oneworld's overall strategy of bringing its member airlines together at airports around the world when it means improved services for customers and reduced costs for the carriers. At Zurich, our four on-line carriers will be able to offer their passengers much better facilities, while enjoying significant efficiencies themselves."

The opportunity to move into new premises at Zurich arose from the latest phase of the airport's expansion. Ralf Etzold , Head of Ground Operations for Unique Zurich Airport Ltd, said: "We agreed that the four oneworld carriers operating at Zurich should move because this would optimise overall operational efficiency across the two terminals, making best use of available infrastructure."

oneworld carriers operate a total of 34 flights most days to and from Zurich:

  • American Airlines - Dallas/Fort Worth and New York JFK, both daily.
  • British Airways - London Heathrow six a day and Manchester twice daily, with one of these flights extending to Glasgow.
  • Finnair – Helsinki twice daily.
  • Iberia – Madrid three times a day and Barcelona twice daily.

    From these oneworld hub airports, the grouping's carriers together offer flights to a total of 135 territories worldwide – more than any other airline alliance offers - and more than 550 destinations.

    With Zurich, oneworld member airlines now share facilities at around 25 airports around the world, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Birmingham, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Helsinki, London Heathrow, Madrid, Manchester, Melbourne, Miami, Munich, New York JFK, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto and Vancouver.

    oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business. Besides the four carriers serving Zurich – American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia – they include Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, LanChile and Qantas.

    oneworld enables them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any of them can provide on their own. This includes a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network, more airport lounges and more alliance fare products, serving more markets, than all its competitors together. Its members' 1,900 aircraft operate nearly 8,700 flights a day.

    It was named the world's Best Airline Alliance by some of the world's most frequent flyers at the 2002 Business Traveller Awards, believed to be the first award for this sector of the travel industry.

    ends