Kevin O'Toole/ZUrich
Swissair's launch of the Qualifyer Group, an alliance with five other European carriers including Turkish Airlines (THY) and TAP Air Portugal, has run into questions over the lack of a transatlantic link.
The grouping, unveiled with a fanfare in Zürich on 30 March, brings Swissair's European partners Austrian Airlines and Sabena into an alliance with TAP, THY and French regional AOM. Although Swissair's longstanding US partner Delta Air Lines is promised as a future member, the airline was not at the launch.
Philippe Bruggisser, chief executive of Swissair's parent SAir Group, says the transatlantic link will be added once Portugal and Turkey have open skies agreements with the USA and have secured the antitrust immunity needed to link marketing and scheduling.
TAP president Manuel Ferriera Lima says that UStalks are underway with hopes of a deal this year. THY president Yusef Bolayirli says that Turkey has agreed in principle but "there is still work to be done before we can proceed".
The Portuguese connection is due to be strengthened with TAP's pending privatisation. Bruggisser says that SAir has an agreement with the Portuguese Government to acquire a stake of up to 20% in the airline. Ferriera also confirms that TAP is in discussions with its regional rival Portugalia.
Bruggisser signals that SAir's next focus for extending the alliance will be to secure traffic feed into Switzerland through links with domestic or regional operators in neighbouring countries. He says negotiations continue with Italy's Air One. Links with other European flag carriers are also promised. He adds that Swissair aims to sign up at least a couple of codeshare deals in Asia in the wake of its abandoned tie-up with Singapore Airlines.
Bruggisser admits the alliance is smaller than emerging global alliances led by British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa, but argues that each partner has a strong grip on its own home market.
Source: Flight International
