SriLankan Airlines progressing well to fly with oneworld by year-end: Chairman

SriLankan Airlines said yesterday it was progressing well in its preparations to officially join the global aviation industry’s leading grouping oneworld alliance.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe talking to media yesterday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport with behind him the oneworld livery carrying first aircraft of Malaysian Airlines, the latest entrant to the world’s leading quality airline alliance from today

“We are making very good progress with a capable team leading the initiative,” the national carrier’s Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe said yesterday on the sidelines of a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur heralding Malaysian Airlines’ official entry into the oneworld alliance.

“We are targeting to complete the requirements and preparations by October. I think before the end of 2013, SriLankan Airlines will be onboard oneworld,” added Wickramasinghe, who was present with member airline heads at the ceremony covered by international media, including the Daily FT.

SriLankan with Cathay Pacific as sponsor and Qatar Airways have been announced oneworld alliance-members-designates. SriLankan’s invitation to oneworld was announced in Beijing in June last year on the sidelines of IATA Annual Meeting 2012.

oneworld identifies itself as the world’s leading quality airline alliance.

Multiple award winning oneworld is an alliance of the world’s leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.

oneworld airlines include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines, and around 30 affiliates. 

A member-elect receives clearance to board oneworld after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness conducted by sponsoring airline with the oneworld central team.

The member airlines of oneworld serve some 860 airports in almost 160 countries, with more than 9,300 daily departures; carry almost a million passengers a day on a combined fleet of more than 2,500 aircraft and generate nearly US$ 120 billion annual revenues in total.

SriLankan already code shares with newest oneworld member Malaysia Airlines in addition to there are agreements in principle to code share with oneworld partners Royal Jordanian and Russia’s S7 Airlines.

When SriLankan becomes part of oneworld, its customers will gain access to this truly global network. The 200,000 members of its FlySmiles frequent flyer program will be able to earn and redeem rewards on any of oneworld’s other carriers, with top tier members able to use any of the alliance’s 550 plus airport lounges and its network will be covered by oneworld’s market leading range of alliance fares.

At the same time, the 120 million frequent flyer cardholders of oneworld’s established airlines will be able to earn and redeem rewards when flying on SriLankan.

oneworld member airlines work together to deliver consistently a superior, seamless travel experience, with special privileges and rewards for frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network. Top tier cardholders (Emerald and Sapphire) enjoy access to some 550 airport lounges.

oneworld is currently the holder of three leading international awards for airline alliances – named the Best Airline Alliance by Global Traveler in its GT Tested Reader Survey 2012 Awards for the third year running, the World’s Leading Airline Alliance in the 2012 World Travel Awards for the 10th year running, and Australian Business Traveller Best Airline Alliance in 2012 for the second year running.