Qatar Airways, British Airways, Iberia form world’s largest airline joint business

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Qatar Airways, the country’s flagship airline, has been flying from strength to strength in recent years.

In a move that will help them scale new heights, Qatar Airways will join hands with British Airways and Iberia to form the world’s largest airline joint business. The three partner airlines will cover more than 60 countries.

While Qatar Airways and British Airways are already in an industry-changing partnership, Iberia will join the club in July.

As a result of the joint business, Iberia will add a new daily service from its hub — the Madrid Barajas International Airport — to Hamad International Airport, from December 11.

Passengers will also be able to connect to more than 200 destinations through the three global airlines.

Together, Iberia’s and Qatar Airways’ expanded service will operate three times daily on the route, providing unrivalled connectivity between the Iberian Peninsula and key markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Iberia will operate the Airbus A330-200, with 288 seats in Business and Economy cabins. The partnership’s expansion provides customers with more options than ever from a wide geographic range of destinations, flight schedules, fares, and seamless connectivity via Doha, London, and Madrid.

Passengers will also have access to a selection of award-winning products including Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, Iberia’s Business Class and British Airways’ Club Suite. 

Customers from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia can enjoy seamless travel to Madrid, Lisbon, Ibiza, Malaga, Gran Canaria, and tens of other destinations across Spain and Portugal.

Marking a world first, members of British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can collect and spend using their common currency — Avios. Loyalty members will be able to transfer Avios between accounts and combine their balances to claim rewards offered by each programme.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “At Qatar Airways, we believe in connecting travellers to their destinations of choice and our recent enhancement to the highly successful joint business with British Airways, includes the addition of another oneworld member, Iberia. Our passengers will now have more opportunities than ever to connect to different destinations. This collaborative effort comes as part of our commitment to continuously improve the offerings available to our passengers and provide them with the best in the industry.”

British Airways Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle said: “Last year, we expanded our joint business partnership with Qatar Airways with the addition of 42 countries, and I’m pleased to see it growing even further as we welcome Iberia on board.”

Iberia CEO Fernando Candela commented: “Joining the QJB with Qatar Airways and British Airways is excellent news for our customers. We’re really excited about the launch of our Madrid-Doha route. Through QJB hubs in London and Doha, we’re building the much-desired bridge between Spain and more than 200 destinations in Asia, Australasia, Middle East, and Africa.”