Oneworld has announced that Sri Lankan Airlines will join the global airline alliance starting late next year.
A statement from the airline network said that “Cathay Pacific will serve as its sponsor in joining Oneworld, supporting the airline through its alliance implementation programme.”
Alongside this development, Sri Lankan Airlines also announced intentions to launch codeshare deals with Oneworld members S7 Airlines and Royal Jordanian. Currently, the carrier already codeshares with Oneworld member elect – Malaysia Airlines – which will officially join oneworld later this year (see story here).
Based in Colombo, Sri Lankan Airlines will add three new destinations to the Oneworld network, all in southern India: Kochi, Tiruchirapalli and Thiruvananthapuram.
Upon joining Oneworld, members of Sri Lankan’s FlySmiLes frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem miles when flying with Oneworld partners and the same will apply to frequent flyer members of other carriers within the alliance when flying with SriLankan.
Sri Lankan Airlines chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe, said: “Joining the alliance will help put Sri Lankan more firmly on the global aviation map and vastly improve Sri Lanka’s connections with the rest of the world.”
For more information, visit www.srilankan.com
Alisha Haridasani