SriLankan-Air Canada in codeshare pact

Air Canada has announced a codeshare agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will make it more convenient to fly between Canada and the island nation in the Indian Ocean.

Canada is home to Sri Lanka's largest expatriate community with thousands of Sri Lankan immigrants living primarily in the Toronto area.

Travel between Canada and Sri Lanka has been growing more than 10 percent.

The agreement will allow passengers, beginning October 27, to travel to Sri Lanka on a single ticket itinerary by connecting with SriLankan Airlines at Air Canada's European gateways of Frankfurt, London and Paris.

"The codeshare agreement gives us the ability to offer customers connections between Air Canada and SriLankan on a single ticket itinerary, checked-through baggage and other benefits that will create a seamless travel experience," said Yves Dufresne, Air Canada Vice-President.

SriLankan Airlines Chief Marketing Officer said the agreement between the two carriers opens up other Canadian cities for Sri Lankan tourists, beyond Toronto and Montreal.

The airline is Air Canada's 24th codeshare partner.

Trade between the two countries is relatively small at $476 million in 2010, with Canadian imports totalling some $128 million consisting primarily of woven and knit apparel.

Canada primarily exports wheat and other agricultural commodities.

Montreal-based Air Canada is the country's largest domestic and international airline and the 15th largest commercial carrier in the world.

The national airline of Sri Lanka was launched in 1979 and is expanding to drive the country's boom in tourism and economic development. From its hub in Colombo, it provides services to 51 destinations in 32 countries.

Winnipeg Free Press