SriLankan Opens Up Flights to India for the Oneworld Alliance

Sri Lanka’s flag carrier, SriLankan Airlines will join the oneworld airline alliance. This link-up will open new routes for the oneworld passengers and they will be able to access SriLankan’s flights to India connecting the southern region of the country.

One of the fastest growing airlines of Asia, Sri Lankan Airlines joined the elite ‘oneworld alliance’ at the beginning of the 68th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit at the World Trade Hotel on 11th June 2012. This liaison will open up new routes into India for oneworld passengers.

SriLankan Airlines is the largest international carrier serving the neighbouring Maldives, a top luxury holiday destination and offers a good frequency of flights to India connecting the southern region of the country from its hub Colombo. India remains a much sought after holiday as well as business destination all over the globe. Members of the oneworld alliance looking to net tickets on cheap flights to India can now look to redeem their air miles with SriLankan Airlines.

The induction of SriLankan Airlines in the alliance will mean the inclusion of three new Indian destinations on to the oneworld network, all from the southern part of the country – Kochi, Tiruchirapalli and Thiruvananthapuram.

CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena said joining the alliance would strengthen the standing of SriLankan Airlines on the global aviation map. “This would also be a major boost to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s Daily News, leading English newspaper, said the entry of the SriLankan into oneworld will be highly rewarding for its passengers as they would be able to access this truly global network. The airline’s FlySmiLes frequent flyer programme members would be able to earn and redeem points on any of oneworld’s other carriers.

The rewards could be highly satisfactory for the budget travellers looking for cheap flight deals or other privileges. Moreover, top-level members of the airline will be able to make use of any of the group’s 550 plus airport lounges.

SriLankan Airlines is expected to be incorporated into oneworld alliance next year, flying alongside some of the best brands in the airline industry.