SriLankan Airlines to join oneworld

Colombo-based SriLankan Airlines is to join the oneworld alliance towards the end of 2012. SriLankan brings three new destinations in southern India to the oneworld network, namely Kochin, Tiruchirapallin and Thiruvanthapuramin. After the airline’s accession to the alliance, the oneworld network will cover about 860 destinations in over 150 countries. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe said, “With the world airline industry increasingly focused on alliances, SriLankan has carried out in-depth analysis of the options open to the airline as we enter this latest phase of our development. oneworld is very clearly the best option for us. Joining the alliance will help put SriLankan more firmly on the global aviation map and vastly improve Sri Lanka’s connections with the rest of the world, with all that means for our country’s vital tourism industry.” Membership is being sponsored by current oneworld member Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific Chief Executive John Slosar said, “SriLankan Airlines is a fine candidate for oneworld, with its growing reputation for customer service mirroring oneworld’s own focus – and with Sri Lanka’s economy growing faster than at any other time in the nation’s history, the timing is right. Cathay Pacific is delighted to be serving as its sponsor in joining oneworld.” SriLankan Airlines already has codeshare arrangements with another member-elect, Malaysia Airlines, which joins the alliance at the end of the year. It is also planning codeshare cooperation with existing oneworld members Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines.