Everybody with some hopes that Fiji Airways’ becoming a full oneworld member might result in a new attractive loyalty option for the alliance got disappointed: Fiji Airways has announced that it would not develop its existing recognition-only program Tabua Club into a full Frequent Flyer Program, but rather adopt American Airlines’ AAdvantage program as its own program.

Given the general market trend to move away from such structures – which typically only benefit the airline operating the program -, the wisdom of that move needs to be questioned as it is not really clear how the typical Fiji Airways customer would benefit from such set-up.

And for the more global community, it simply means that there is no hope on the horizion for a new, outstanding program within oneworld.