For the alliance to have an effective hub at Heathrow it'll need a partner that flies about two dozen routes a day out of London's busiest airport. Is this an opportunity for a carrier on the ropes to get a leg up?
Oneworld is the smallest of global airline alliances so it needs to be flexible in allowing airlines like Qantas to form strategic relationships outside the group to foster growth in the long run.
Air travel is expected to grow along side Liberia's economy in the coming year, and with Air Nigeria on the verge of collapse, BA may soon have another profitable base in the continent.
The trends are clear as consolidation takes hold in the U.S. and global alliances become all-powerful. Fewer, more stable airlines, maybe, but it's not necessarily advantageous for passengers trying to get from here to there with a reasonable fare.