Airlines

Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus is to become only the second major carrier to leave one of the three big airline alliances. The first was Mexicana, which left Star in March 2004 to go it alone, albeit with an extensive bilateral codeshare relationship with American Airlines of oneworld. With Aer Lingus positioning itself as a low-fares, point-to-point carrier its position in oneworld has been under question for some time. The carrier says it will retain bilateral links with some oneworld members. It will most likely severe its oneworld ties in early 2007.