SriLankan has become the first airline from the Indian subcontinent to join any of the global airline alliances, giving it access to several hundred airports and seamless travel for its passengers across countries.

SriLankan, which formally joined OneWorld alliance on Thursday, will now rub shoulders with the likes of American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and several other member-airlines giving it access to 1,000 airports in 150 countries and a combined fleet of some 3,300 aircraft.

At present, SriLankan flies to over 70 destinations in 36 countries. Its Indian counterpart, Air India is expected to join the rival Star Alliance in June this year. Star Alliance is the biggest among the three such airline partnerships. Star connects to 1,269 airports in 190 countries. Star Alliance has 26 member airlines, SkyTeam has 20 and OneWorld has 15.

SriLankan Airlines expects to earn $25 million revenues after joining OneWorld. “By joining a global alliance, we will have access to hundreds of destinations which would not have been possible if we were to do it alone,” SriLankan Airlines CEO, Kapila Chandrasena told Business Line.

He said the airline’s addition to OneWorld will add two new destinations to the alliance network: Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka as well as Tiruchirapalli in South India.

“We are looking to add Hyderabad and a few other cities in India soon but only if it makes economic sense,” Chandrasena said.

At present, SriLankan flies to 10 cities in India. He said the airline is also talking to Jet Airways for a possible code sharing arrangement and the same airline is also being wooed by OneWorld to join its alliance.

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