A well known large Indian carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has just recently agreed to join the Oneworld Alliance with American Airlines and 10 other well known carriers. Right now, just when Kingfisher Airlines will join the alliance remains uncertain. This is because the company needs to get regulatory approval in its home country first. However, a statement recently said that the alliance said that the process for getting any airline into the Oneworld Alliance normally takes about 18 months.

The statement went on to say that Kingfisher Airlines would be expected to start flying as part of the Oneworld Alliance during 2011. Just earlier this month, Oneworld Alliance managed to retain Japan Airlines despite big offers being thrown at the Japanese carrier by the SkyTeam Alliance, which does include American rival Delta Airlines.

Also, this February, the Fort Worth-based American Airlines said that the federal Transportation Department granted tentative approval for antitrust immunity for transatlantic operations that were requested by American, British Airways and Iberia. Other members of the Oneworld Alliance include Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Maley Hugairan Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas and Royal Jordanian.

Right now things seem to be going the way that the Oneworld Alliance wants them to go. Not only did they get to hold onto Japan Airlines, they got a new Indian carrier on the way. The reason why Japan Airlines was such a big deal is for the fact that an openskies agreement was just recently approved between the United States and Japan. This now means a lot more to the Oneworld Alliance since they have one of the biggest Asian airlines on their side.