Oneworld alliance best option for SriLankan – CEO

“With the world airline industry increasingly focused on alliances, SriLankan has carried out in-depth analysis of the possibilities open to us as we enter this latest phase of our development.

Oneworld is very clearly the best option for SriLankan,” said CEO SriLankan Kapila Chandrasena.

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,” he said in China after the arrangement was made at the 68th annual general meeting of IATA and Transport Summit. As an airline highly focused on quality service, we are extremely proud to have been invited to join the highest quality alliance with the best airline partners offering a global network that best complements our own.”

“We look forward to completing all joining requirements as soon as possible.”

Today, SriLankan serves 34 destinations in 22 countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Besides being Sri Lanka’s flagcarrier, it is also the largest international airline serving neighbouring Maldives, and have a leading presence also in South India, with 77 frequencies a week.

The fleet of 21 aircraft carried 3.5 million passengers last year.

“We are a business focussed on customer service, on profitability and on supporting the vital SriLankan tourism industry.”

Since peace was restored three years ago, tourism and airport and aviation have been identified as key strategic industries central to the transformation of our nation’s economy. SriLankan has been recognised as an integral partner in these development activities. The second international airport in the Southern city of Mattala further strengthens this commitment.

Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased by more than 30 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year and Sri Lanka is targeting 4 million tourists by 2020. Currently SriLankan brings in over 40 percent of the tourists to the country and this is expected to grow further with the expansion of our network.

Sri Lanka’s economy grew by an impressive 8.3 percent in 2011. Per capita income has doubled in the past five years, and the total inbound and outbound markets have grown by 50 percent in the past three years – all of which demonstrates a significant potential for SriLankan as well as, now, for oneworld.

“SriLankan too has almost doubled in size in the past three years and we will further increase our fleet and expand our network in the next few years. We are convinced that becoming part of oneworld, will help us achieve those goals.”

Joining oneworld will enable us to offer our customers all the benefits that come with being part of the world’s premier alliance – services and value beyond the reach of any individual airline.

“When we join, members of our FlySmiles loyalty programme will be able to earn rewards and tier status points whenever they fly on any oneworld partner – and redeem them throughout that global network.”

Our top tier cardholders will, in effect, have their privileges extended to whenever they fly with any oneworld partner – access to more than 550 of the best airport lounges worldwide, priority check-in, boarding and wait listing and so on.

SriLankan’s network will be covered by oneworld’s alliance fares – and our customers gain greater support when they fly around the world. “As we progress towards implementation into oneworld, we expect to develop closer links with our alliance partners. We already code-share with our fellow member elect Malaysia Airlines and we can announce agreement in principle to code-share also with Royal Jordanian and S7.” The revenues that flow from our oneworld alliance activity will strengthen the airline as will the opportunities to share in all the best practice areas in which the alliance works.

“The invitation to SriLankan Airlines to join oneworld represents an important step in what has been a landmark year in terms of membership development for our alliance,” said Tom Horton from oneworld.

Both Airberlin and Malaysian Airlines were the last two members to join oneworld last year.

“Later that month, we added as an affiliate member the newest airline in the Iberia group – Iberia Express, its new short-and medium-haul carrier, as it opened service,” he said. Last month, we began the process of bringing into oneworld, on a phased basis, routes operated by bmi British Midland as they adopted the flight codes of British Airways. The integration of bmi, a former Star Alliance member, into British Airways is moving closer towards completion, following its purchase by BA’s holding company, IAG.

“Malaysian Airlines is now right on track towards completing its oneworld implementation programme to enable it to start offering the alliance’s full range of services and benefits later this year,” he added.