Philippine Airlines will become a new member of the oneworld alliance, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, formally launching the process of the Philippine flag carrier’s accession to the global airline alliance.
With Philippine Airlines joining, oneworld will gain its 16th member airline and further strengthen its network in Southeast Asia, a region where the presence of global alliances remains important due to the strong flow of international and regional passengers. PAL will bring 31 unique destinations in the Philippines and beyond to the oneworld network, expanding connectivity options across Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
PAL Holdings President Lucio C. Tan III described the move as a “defining and transformative moment” for Philippine Airlines. He said membership in oneworld would bring the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian region closer to the rest of the world, offering passengers greater choice, more consistent journeys and a level of service reflecting the warmth of Filipino hospitality.
Philippine Airlines was invited to join by the oneworld Governing Board, which consists of the chief executives of all member airlines. Robert Isom, chairman of the oneworld Governing Board and chief executive officer of American Airlines, said PAL’s entry supports the alliance’s long-term growth strategy and strengthens connectivity across key markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
For passengers, Philippine Airlines’ membership will primarily mean expanded benefits in its loyalty programme. Members of the Mabuhay Miles programme will be able to earn and redeem miles across all oneworld member airlines, while eligible top-tier passengers will gain access to oneworld Priority benefits, including priority check-in and boarding, as well as access to a network of more than 700 premium airport lounges. These include oneworld’s own lounges in Amsterdam and Seoul, as well as First Class lounges and dedicated check-in areas, which the alliance highlights as one of its distinctive benefits for frequent travellers.
oneworld chief executive officer Ole Orvér said Philippine Airlines is a globally respected carrier with a strong focus on innovation and customer service, aligning with oneworld’s positioning as a premium global alliance. He added that the decision to welcome PAL is an endorsement of oneworld and its global customer offering.
Founded in 1941, Philippine Airlines is Asia’s oldest commercial airline and the only full-service network airline in the Philippines. Today, it operates from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations across the Philippines and 40 international destinations in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East. The airline holds an APEX Four Star rating and was recognised by Cirium for achieving the highest on-time performance among Asia-Pacific carriers in 2025.
oneworld currently brings together 15 airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and others. Their combined network covers nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide, and the accession of Philippine Airlines will further expand the alliance’s reach in one of the world’s most dynamic aviation regions.
