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 it was launched 15 years ago.

These landmarks are being celebrated today at a ceremony attended by the key ministers from Sri Lanka’s government at South Asia’s newest international airport, Hambantota’s Mattala Rajapaksa International, serving Sri Lanka’s south and east Coasts and Hambantota’s sea port.

The airline’s addition to oneworld will bring two new destinations on to the alliance network - Hambantota itself 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.

From 00:01 Colombo time tonight, the 300,000 members of SriLankan’s FlySmiLes loyalty programme will, in effect, have their frequent flyer privileges extended to whenever they fly on oneworld member airlines - including earning rewards and tier status points plus the ability to redeem rewards for flights throughout the alliance network.

Also from tonight, 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.