Trans World Airlines was planning in late April to join US Airways and become the second US airline partner in the regional frequent flyer programme, LatinPass.
This follows the recent decision by Venezuela's Aeropostal, following its privatisation and revival, to join LatinPass. The addition of the two new members gives the programme a boost following LanChile's defection in January.
As a founding member, US Airways was consulted about and supported TWA's entry into the programme. Both will maintain the current strategy of exchanging traffic with Latin airlines at the latters' US gateways, rather than competing against them within Latin America. US Airways currently generates 30 per cent of the revenue miles for LatinPass.
Robert Booth, president of Aviation Management Services, who developed and manages LatinPass, claims the programme is even more important to Latin airlines now than when it started in 1995, because US carriers are boosting their regional presence and luring Latin carriers into US-dominated FFPs. Booth predicts: 'In five years time only those [Latin] airlines with strong regional associations and alliances will survive. The others will either fail or become subsidiary-feeders for their mega US owners.'
Booth also refutes recent rumours that Aeromexico, AeroPeru, and Sahsa from Honduras have withdrawn from LatinPass.
Two other carriers are now considering LatinPass membership. One is Peru's AeroContinente, which plans to launch its first international scheduled flights this June. Alitalia is also interested in becoming a member.
Source: Airline Business
