OREANDA-NEWS. SriLankan Airlines becomes part of oneworld® from midnight tonight, offering the full range of services and benefits of the world's fastest growing and highest rated global airline alliance.

It becomes the first carrier from the Indian subcontinent to join any of the global airline alliances - and completes oneworld's biggest expansion programme since the alliance was launched 15 years ago.

The airline's addition to oneworld will bring two new destinations on to the alliance network - Hambantota plus India's Tiruchirapalli - along with its Colombo base as a new oneworld hub. With an extensive schedule serving southern India and as the leading international airline serving the Maldives, SriLankan also significantly strengthens oneworld's presence throughout South Asia, one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand.

The 180 million members of the established oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes will be able to earn rewards and tier status points and receive all other oneworld benefits when flying on SriLankan and redeem awards on the airline's network.

As part of oneworld, SriLankan will be able to offer all of its customers seamless connections across a global network serving almost 1,000 destinations in more than 150 countries, with first rate connections between the world's leading business centres.

SriLankan is already participating in Global Explorer, the round-the-world fare offered by all oneworld members and various airlines that are not part of the alliance. Its network will be covered by oneworld's full range of alliance fares - the most extensive offered by any of the global alliances, including the market-leading oneworld Explorer round-the-world fare.

This range of alliance fares will be further extended with the addition of a new Visit South Asian Sub-Continent pass, marking SriLankan's addition to oneworld, and offering great value flights in the region in conjunction with an international sector there.

oneworld Governing Board CEO Bruce Ashby said: “The addition of SriLankan Airlines concludes what has been the biggest and fastest growth programme by any global airline alliance, enabling oneworld to consolidate its position as the first choice global alliance for frequent international travelers the world over. In SriLankan, we are delighted to be adding another high quality, fast expanding carrier to the world's fastest growing and most highly rated global airline alliance.”