Sri Lankan to join oneworld
 

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Hmmm...a mixed bag. UL has 3-stars in SKYTRAX, and their J-class is configured as a regional J albeit with AVOD; however, it's being upgraded to horizontal lie-flat. Their network doesn't really add a whole lot (certainly not a replacement for IT), but any little bit helps.

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, it's 43.6% owned and is managed by Emirates, which will now be able to directly measure the value of oneworld.

http://www.srilankan.com/en_uk/

The OW site press release states as "SriLankan Airlines is majority owned by the Sri Lankan government and state-owned institutions".
8 Jul 2010 http://www.srilankanewstoday.com/news.php?newsid=1737
Wikipedia is never a reliable source.

See today's post on the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...er-merged.html

I wonder with UL joining if they add Sri Lanka to the xASnn which currently doesn't permit areas west of Thailand (Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam).

I think that it is a good choice. UL has PVG/PEK/CAN/HKG as a fifth free routes from BKK. They also operate MOW-DXB and KUL-SIN.

Last year I had six segments in business on UL. Their STPC experience and my flight PEK-BKK were both good.

UL is a somewhat baffling choice, especially for CX to sponsor as they compete directly with CX on a few routes. I'm not quite sure what value this adds to OW either. Other than connecting South India & Sri Lanka to OW, what's the big idea?

Are these markets even important?

I'm sure there must be some logic in there somewhere, just that I can't seem to find it.

It's hardly a drop in replacement for IT - if that was the original plan. Usually I'd say the more carriers the merrier, but I don't know what value this really brings to OW :confused:

Hopefully they start flying to PNQ to get valuable feed for long haul operations.

PNQ-CMB-Europe is a very unlikely routing which involves heavy backtracking. It would make more sense to fly domestic to BOM/DEL and then onwards.

Also with the xCIRnn which currently has the same retriction

But since there are OW flights to CMB already (flown by CX), maybe there won't be a change. In any case UL won't be joining until late 2013, so I won't be holding my breath!

And RJ plus oneworld candidate-member MH.

I love how they put Belfast and Edinburgh as offshore airports somewhere north of their respective islands; and how Frankfurt has migrated well into Poland.

Not any more - Emirates sold their stake back to the Sri Lankan government in 2010.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-0...3-million.html

SriLanka's renationalization has been somewhat of a disaster, with the airline continuing to incure operating losses. Its fleet is aging and the inflight entertainment systems rather outdated. It is also being compelled to incorporate another loss-making state-run government airline, Mihin Air. So at this juncture, I am not sure what value addition this will bring to OW, except, of course, a few more routing options to India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

SriLanka is planning a fleet renewal program right now they are currently deciding between the A350 and the 777. They stated a decision will be made before 2012 ends and also planning to increase their fleet to 30 aircrafts with them joining Oneworld it will give them a chance to grow their fleet even more in the future.

Baffling really. Surely OW has higher priorities. I wonder who their sponsor is?

Half a loaf is better than no bread...
 

UL will offer another option to fly from Europe to Asia (especially the Indian Sub-Continent) without having to fork out BA's huge YQ charges; also, for those who can fly from FRA/PAR etc., another way to avoid APD.

And I daresay UL offers far better service than RJ.

Considering how few active carriers there are in OW today, I say the more the merrier...

Stated earlier, Cathay.

Cathay Pacific

My sentiments exactly. They may not be the greatest prize, but the more airlines in OW the better as far as I am concerned.

And Cathay have been very positive in the official press releases about Sri Lankan (not they are likely to be negaive of course!): "Cathay Pacific Chief Executive John Slosar said: "SriLankan Airlines is a fine candidate for oneworld, with its growing reputation for customer service mirroring oneworld's own focus - and with Sri Lanka's economy growing faster than at any other time in the nation's history, the timing is right. Cathay Pacific is delighted to be serving as its sponsor in joining oneworld".

This is what everyone else said BTW:

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Kapila Chandrasena added: "As an airline highly focused on quality service, we are extremely proud to have been invited to join the highest quality alliance with the best airline partners offering a global network that best complements our own. We look forward to completing all joining requirements as soon as possible."

American Airlines' Chairman and Chief Executive Tom Horton, Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board, said: "Today's agreement with SriLankan Airlines adds even more value for our customers who have made oneworld the first choice airline alliance for the world's frequent international travellers. We look forward to welcoming SriLankan to oneworld."

oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby said: "In SriLankan Airlines, oneworld is pleased to welcome a high-quality airline that will enhance oneworld's network and product offerings in one of the world's fastest growing regions for air travel demand."

For flights to Male, how would SriLankan compare to BA in premium cabins?

Nice, hope AA will allow routings through CMB to Indian airports.

You can do that now for 2 awards.

I am looking for one award.

While this will not replace an Indian carrier, I agree with others, the more airlines the better. This still will give options even if most outside Sri Lanka will not fly it.

However, for the people in Sri Lanka, they will now gain many options for travel.

Good news for me!
now if only the timetables match!

And it opens up Male for us in South Africa wanting to use an XONEX!

On the face of it, it does seem an odd choice but it makes a lot of sense as it provides an airline for the South Asia region, which OW currently does not have and lets face it, all the the Indian full service carriers appear to be complete and utter basket cases. So finding carriers based outside of India with a good Indian network is a good start.

It also adds more travel options to passangers as well as a more robust South East Asian network.

Flown four times with Sri Lankan in the last month. Their service was far better than I was expecting and, like others here have said, I'm happy to see the oneworld world get larger. The more the merrier indeed!

With Malaysian joining OW in the future as well, for those of us who travel to Asia a lot, it will be nice to earn TPs and Avios and enjoy ground-based perks, for travel that at the moment isn't quite as rewarding.

^

From the time of announcement, how long does it take before the airline is fully intergrated into the One world alliance..??

Seems to vary a lot - say 18 ± 12 months ... [from date of announcement]

The official press release indicated 2013, so likely 1.5 year or less.

Kingfisher was announced July 2010, date set for Feb 2012, before Kingfisher imploded.

Malaysian announced June 2011, still yet to join but rumored for Nov 2012.

So 18 months a fair assumption.

Is good to see Cathay sponsoring someone.

Would be better to see Cathay sponsoring Air China and Jet Airways/Indigo!!

Looks like Mexicana will be back and all their slots will be returned

Where do you read this??
AeroMexico seems to be filling the holes
http://www.4-traders.com/GRUPO-AEROMEXICO-SA-DE-C-10053429/news/Mexican-Airline-Aeromexico-Orders-$11-Billion-in-Boeing-Planes-14431198/

Do you have a source?

I've certainly seen no indication that Air China has any intention to move from Star Alliance. With Shenzhen airlines soon going to Star also and CZ and MH already in Skyteam, MF (Xiamen Airlines) going to Skyteam soon, Oneworld was way slow to the punch in Mainland China... still there is one worthwhile scrap that could be picked up. I know there has already been a lot of discussion about Hainan Airlines which is quite good, but CX has their beef with them over HX. Not much left over in China that flies internationally.

MH is joining OW
perhaps you meant MU?

Indeed, that should have been MU (China Eastern)

As someone who is BA G and living in Moscow, having Shri Lankan in OW will make a big difference, as they hub via Dubai and offer some cracking Business Class Deals to SEA. 750 Euro's at Christmas Time DME-BKK in C... Gotta love that and the Tier Points :) 140 x 4

My wife and I flew Sri Lankan last year in business class back and forth between Colombo and Male (Maldives). Flight was short and certainly adequate. Old-style J seats, decent service. But it was a very good price (I forget the details, but perhaps $500 RT each, as opposed to about $350 for economy???), so for the flights themselves we got more than what we paid for and came away quite satisfied. One of the benefits of it joining OW will clearly be for OW passengers looking to book all the way to the Maldives from or via other Asian locations.

However, dealing with the airline beforehand was a real pain. Received an email telling me that we had to switch from one of our flights to another (which would have been very inconvenient) because they had overbooked. I could not deal with the reservation online, so had to call Colombo and was able to refuse the change. The one competent supervisor I reached there advised me to check in as early as possible to avoid getting downgraded. So we did check in early and had no problem, but at the Colombo airport it seemed that the downgrade happened to another couple who were taken by surprise and treated rather rudely by the airline's agent there.

Actually, the above mini-saga was a bit more complicated and confusing, and more of a hassle than I've summarized, but the above provides the gist of it.

It also seems that the airline is prone to changing its schedule and sometimes running late (though not outright cancellations). I hope that joining OW will improve its operations in all of these regards.

Good that UL will join OW.

I recently discovered excellent connections into/out of Australia and both involve UL. In addition, I tried the BA connection into/out of SIN and then the UL connection into/out of SIN. It worked, AND it was very cost effective as compared to any other OW or *A flights done in the past.

With UL in Business class, and the BA in economy, the combo was MUCH more comfortable and cost effective, than say the CX situation I tried last year. Yes, I got some BA Avios points with CX, BUT I got max points with BA into/out of SIN. Then with my baggage allowance (from BAEC Silver and UL's business class), I got MORE baggage allowance than the (comparative) paultry CX or SQ allowances.

In addition, I broke up my trip into 3 sectors with 3 lounges in each direction. The UL lounge in Colombo has an excellent ayurvedic massage that is free for 15 minutes. Then of course the attendants personally brew your tea/coffee. THAT does not happen anywhere on BA - I say that as I sit scribbling this at T5. Food is food, but on the UL sectors, they personally serve you your choice of 3 different entrees...

Yes, the UL bus class seats leave something to be desired - as compared to BA seating. However, the longest sector was about 4 hours, and as a non-BA economy flier for 43 years I say: "So what, the servixce makes up for it, AND so does cost effectiveness".

I await UL entry into OW and getting the TPs and the Avios miles. Amen :D