Oneworld CEO on New Lounges, Tech Upgrades, and Where the Alliance Falls Short

When Skift last caught up with Pieper he had 13 airline CEO bosses; now he’s got 15. Between digital upgrades and global growth, they're keeping him busy.

Airline alliances are often seen as slow-moving and bureaucratic, but oneworld has been unusually active. Under CEO Nat Pieper, now 14 months into the role, the alliance has added members and expanded its regional influence — most recently with Oman Air joining as its 15th member.

The Muscat-based carrier joins Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian in giving oneworld an even more dominant position in the Middle East.

Speaking at a recent media briefing, Pieper defended concerns about possible over-representation. He argued the move “clearly cemented oneworld as the alliance of choice in that region” and commended the Middle East for investing in global business and global tourism projects. "Having three core members gives us an advantage that we will promote,” Pieper added.

For all its Gulf clout, oneworld has glaring absences elsewhere. As well as South America and Sub-Saharan Africa, it lacks member airlines based in two of the world’s most important aviation markets: India and mainland China. Rival Star Alliance includes Air India and Air China among its members, while SkyTeam has China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines.