Malaysia Airlines will join the oneworld alliance, voted “World’s Leading Airline Alliance” by World Travel Awards, according to an announcement made at the IATA conference in Singapore.

The carrier, voted “World’s Leading Airline to Asia” by World Travel Awards, was unanimously elected a member designate, with a formal alliance membership agreement to be completed soon.

It is expected to start flying as part of oneworld at the end of 2012. It already code-shares with oneworld partners Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.

Malaysia’s new membership extend’s oneworld’s global coverage close to 950 destinations in 150 countries, and carrying close to 358 million passengers a year.

Qantas has sponsored Malaysia’s entry into oneworld, in a tie up that scuppers the chance of Virgin Blue tying up with Malaysian as a route into the Far Eastern market, according to reports in the Australian media.

(Malaysia Airlines was voted “World’s Leading Airline to Asia” by World Travel Awards. Pictured: Tan Sri Dr.Mohd Munir bin Abdul Majid, Chairman, Malaysia Airlines; Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards)

Malaysia Airlines Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tengku Azmil Aziz said that oneworld is the “global network which best complements our own” in terms of the focus on quality service.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said; “Its Kuala Lumpur home will provide our customers with another of the world’s best airports, geographically well placed between our existing hubs.  Qantas is delighted to be serving as its sponsor in joining oneworld.”