Korean Air and Sri Lankan Airlines, two major players in the global aviation industry, have officially entered into a codeshare partnership, effective from March 15, 2024. This strategic alliance is set to offer enhanced travel options and seamless connections for customers of both airlines traveling between Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Sri Lanka, and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul.
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Under the partnership, Sri Lankan Airlines will codeshare flights operated between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Incheon Airport by Korean Air. This arrangement will enable passengers to travel on a single Sri Lankan Airlines ticket between Colombo Airport and Incheon Airport via Singapore. Simultaneously, Korean Air will codeshare on flights operated by Sri Lankan Airlines between Colombo Airport and several cities including Seoul Incheon, Singapore, Chennai in India, and Male in the Maldives.
Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lankan Airlines, expressed delight at the launch of their first-ever codeshare partnership with Korean Air. He emphasized that the partnership would boost connectivity between Colombo and Seoul, and cater to the growing passenger traffic between the two cities. Nuttall added that the partnership would help Sri Lankan Airlines grow its presence on this route in a manner that is fast and economical for the airline, and provide more reasons for customers to choose Sri Lankan Airlines. The new partnership enables Sri Lankan Airlines to tap into Korean Air's extensive Far Eastern network, offering passengers of Sri Lankan Airlines the choice of daily flights between Colombo and Seoul via Singapore. Korean Air passengers also gain access to Sri Lankan Airlines' high-powered network in the Indian Subcontinent, including nearly 100 flights a week across nine Indian cities and 23 flights a week to the Maldives.
The codeshare flights are available for sale through the online reservation systems and sales offices of Sri Lankan Airlines and Korean Air, as well as external online and offline travel agencies. The convenience of a single ticket on multi-sector journeys, which includes check-in and baggage transfer, is expected to provide a seamless travel experience for passengers. In conclusion, the commencement of the codeshare partnership between Sri Lankan Airlines and Korean Air marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity between Sri Lanka and South Korea. With increased flight choices, streamlined connections, and improved market presence, both airlines are poised to deliver an enhanced travel experience for passengers while fostering stronger ties between the two nations.