Ireland's flagship carrier Aer Lingus is to leave the oneworld alliance probably early next year. The move had been long predicted.
But the airline said it hoped to retain bilateral links with several of the Alliance's key members.
The decision to leave was taken last week by the Aer Lingus board. It said that since joining oneworld in June 2000 its "business strategy has changed fundamentally and the airline has successfully repositioned itself as a profitable low fares point to point carrier."
Changes included the abolition of business class on short haul routes which set it at odds with other Alliance members like BA and American Airlines.
Aer Lingus said that since its repositioning, passenger numbers connecting to or from partner airlines had declined by "more than 50%."
Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus's ceo, said that its membership of oneworld had become
"less relevant for the airline over time."
He added: "Emphasis in the future will be to continue to expand our range of destinations from Ireland, both short haul and long haul. Our recently commenced non-stop Dubai service represents the first strand of this strategy."
But he said the carrier hoped to maintain strong bilateral relationships with the existing partners and talks were already underway to achieve such agreements.
Oneworld said the final timing and terms for Aer Lingus's withdrawal would be settled at the next meeting of the Alliance's governing board.
It said the departure of Aer Lingus, the smallest carrier in the Alliance, came at the time of it biggest expansion with three airlines, Japan Airlines, Malev Hungarian and Royal Jordanian set to join next year.
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