Hambantota: SriLankan Airlines on Wednesday became the first carrier in the subcontinent to join global airlines grouping 'oneworld', even as Air India awaits formal entry into Star Alliance.
SriLankan's official entry into the club of premier airlines was announced at a grand ceremony at Hambantota by its Chairman Nishantha Vikremasinghe and 'oneworld' chief executive Bruce Ashby.
SriLankan's first flight as part of the alliance would depart from Colombo to the Kuala Lumpur hub of 'oneworld' partner Malaysia Airlines tomorrow morning.
The airline's addition to 'oneworld' would bring two new destinations on to the alliance network ? Hambantota and Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, apart from its Colombo base as a new oneworld hub.
Hambantota, 200 km south of Colombo, is the home town of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Air India is in an advanced stage of joining the competing airlines grouping Star Alliance.
With an extensive schedule serving southern India and as the leading global airline serving the Maldives, SriLankan would also significantly strengthen 'oneworld's presence throughout South Asia, one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand, a spokesperson said.
After Sri Lankan's entry, 'oneworld' now has 15 global airlines, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways and American Airlines.
"We are delighted to be adding another fast expanding carrier to the world's fastest growing and most highly rated global airline alliance," Ashby said at the function.
Asked whether 'oneworld' intended to add a member from India, he said the grouping had earlier been in talks with some Indian airlines but did not divulge the name.
"The club always scouts for the best airline in the world and as and when it comes across any such carrier, it will be open to induct it," he said.