Qatar Airways Ltd.’s move to become the first Gulf member of a global airline alliance represents a coup for British Airways chief Willie Walsh, who had pursued the accord, and may lead to deeper ties between the companies.
The deal secures the second-biggest unattached carrier for Oneworld and gives British Airways and allies including American Airlines access to destinations in high-growth markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where the U.K. operator has lagged behind rivals Air France-KLM Group and Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
