Editing Oneworld (section)

====2005–2006: The first big expansion drive====
[[File:Royal Jordanian Airlines Airbus A319; JY-AYP@ZRH;07.04.2010 570eq (4500715784).jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Jordanian]] [[Airbus A319]] in Oneworld livery]]
The mid 2000s saw Oneworld undertake one of the biggest expansions in its history. [[Hungary|Hungarian]] flag carrier [[Malév]] signed an MOU in May 2005 as a precursor to a formal invitation to join, extended in November 2005.<ref name="MA">{{cite press release|title=Malév invited to join '''one'''world alliance|url=http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=6289|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131002433/http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=6289|archive-date=31 January 2013|website=Oneworld|date=22 November 2005|access-date=7 August 2009}}</ref> On 17 October 2005, the alliance signed as a member-elect [[Royal Jordanian]], the first airline from the [[Middle East]] to accept an invitation to join any global airline alliance.<ref name="RJ">{{cite press release|title=Royal Jordanian to join '''one'''world airline alliance|url=http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=6017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130185200/http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=6017|archive-date=30 January 2013|website=Oneworld|date=17 October 2005|access-date=7 August 2009}}</ref>

[[Japan Airlines]], then [[Asia]]'s largest airline group, applied to join the alliance on 25 October 2005.<ref name="JL">{{cite press release|title=JAL Decision to Seek '''one'''world Membership|url=http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200510/000611.html|website=[[Japan Airlines]]|date=25 October 2005|access-date=7 August 2009|archive-date=22 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722130155/http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200510/000611.html|url-status=live}}</ref> JAL and Oneworld exchanged an MOU on 8 February 2006, setting out a framework for the remaining steps to be taken before the airline could be formally invited to join. On 5 June 2006, JAL accepted a formal letter of invitation to join the alliance, along with five members of the JAL Group as affiliate members, including [[J-Air]], [[JAL Express]], [[JALways]], [[Japan Asia Airways]] and [[Japan Transocean Air]].<ref name="JL2">{{cite press release|title=Japan Airlines completes first step to '''one'''world membership|url=http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200602/000521.html|website=Japan Airlines|date=8 February 2006|access-date=7 August 2009|archive-date=22 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822093839/http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200602/000521.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JL3">{{cite press release|title=Japan Airlines to join '''one'''world alliance early next year|url=http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200606/000555.html|website=Japan Airlines|date=5 June 2006|access-date=7 August 2009|archive-date=12 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212105949/http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200606/000555.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:JAPAN AIRLINES JA15XJ JA732J HND 28-JUN-2023.jpg|thumb|A [[Japan Airlines]] [[Airbus A350-900]] and a [[Boeing 777#777-300|Boeing 777-300ER]] in Oneworld livery]]
All three of these airline groups — Japan Airlines, Malév and Royal Jordanian — joined as full members and started offering the alliance's full range of services and benefits on 1 April 2007, along with, as Oneworld affiliate members, Japan Airlines' subsidiaries J‑Air, JAL Express, JALways, Japan Asia Airways and Japan Transocean Air, and LAN's subsidiaries LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador. They expanded the Oneworld network to almost 700 airports in nearly 150 countries served by 9,000 daily departures, carrying around 315 million passengers per year with a fleet of almost 2,500 aircraft, with top-tier frequent flyers able to access 400 [[airport lounge]]s worldwide.<ref name="JLMARJ">{{cite press release|title='''one'''world becomes ten of the world's biggest and best airlines as Japan Airlines, Malév and Royal Jordanian board |url=http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=9869 |website=Oneworld |date=1 April 2007 |access-date=7 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829102158/http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=9869 |archive-date=29 August 2007 }}</ref>

On the same day, Aer Lingus voluntarily exited the alliance due to a fundamental change to its business strategy. The Irish carrier was repositioning itself as a low fares point-to-point carrier, while Oneworld's focus was on the multisector, premium, frequent international travellers' market. Although no longer a Oneworld member, Aer Lingus maintained frequent-flyer programme partnerships with some of the alliance members and continued to participate in the alliance's Global Explorer [[round-the-world ticket|round-the-world]] fare product.<ref name="EIleave">{{cite press release|title=Aer Lingus plans to leave oneworld |url=http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=7471 |website=Oneworld |date=30 May 2006 |access-date=7 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209043258/http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=7471 |archive-date=9 February 2007 }}</ref><ref name="EIleave2">{{cite press release|title=Aer Lingus' withdrawal date set as 1 April 2007 |url=http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=8613 |website=Oneworld |date=29 September 2006 |access-date=7 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209043750/http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=8613 |archive-date=9 February 2007 }}</ref>

In February 2012, Malév suspended all services indefinitely, citing financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite web|author=Leitner, Atilla|url=http://www.sofiaecho.com/2012/03/19/1790936_terminal-condition|website=The Sofia Echo|title=Terminal condition|date=19 March 2012|access-date=20 March 2012|archive-date=22 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074009/http://sofiaecho.com/2012/03/19/1790936_terminal-condition|url-status=live}}</ref> Its participation in Oneworld ended when the airline was wound up in the following weeks.