Swiss joins Oneworld Alliance

TROUBLED Swiss has become a member of the Oneworld Alliance and formed a strategic alliance with British Airways.

The carrier was in talks with both BA and Lufthansa but rejected the chance to join the Star Alliance in favour of the smaller Oneworld. Under its deal with BA, it will hand over eight pairs of Heathrow slots in return for BA supporting a £24.4 million loan.

The two carriers will also codeshare between Heathrow and Zurich, Basle and Geneva from October 26.