Kingfisher Airlines to become part of oneworld

Kingfisher Airlines - India's leading domestic carrier - is set to join the oneworld alliance.

The move will allow the company to form closer links with other members of oneworld, such as Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas and Royal Jordanian.

Kingfisher Airlines' induction into oneworld will add 58 cities to the coalition's network and make it the only alliance in the world to have carriers based on every continent.

Vijay Mallya, chief executive of the Indian operator, said: "Kingfisher Airlines is proud to be lining up to join the world's leading quality global airline alliance. Becoming part of oneworld would be one of our most significant steps so far - and is right in line with our vision to become one of the world's top airlines.

"It will enable us to offer our guests a truly global network served by partners who include some of the best known and most admired airlines in the world, with frequent flyer benefits extended throughout this network."

Oneworld carriers currently serve five cities in India between them - Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

Kingfisher Airlines will be supported by British Airways during its alliance implementation and is set to start flying as a oneworld carrier in 2011.