The latest expansion of the oneworld global airline alliance is a boon to Japan Airlines Co. on several fronts, including the access it will get to the Latin American market via new Brazilian partner TAM Airlines.

The other new carrier is US Airways, which is one of the world's largest airlines but now a unit of the alliance's founding member, the American Airlines Group, the world's largest airline and JAL's key trans-Pacific partner.

TAM and US Airways have left the Star Alliance, oneworld's larger rival, which also includes All Nippon Airways Co., JAL's principal competitor.