Sri Lankan Airlines has strengthened its route network and added more options for its passengers flying out of India with the launch of daily non-stop services to Melbourne from Colombo. The new launch is expected to provide seamless connectivity to passengers, especially, flying out of southern cities of India – where Sri Lankan Airlines has significant footprints. The flag carrier of Sri Lanka has long been pivotal to the idea of establishing Colombo as a major aviation hub in the Indian Ocean and the non-stop service is a step in that direction.
The airline has deployed Airbus A330 aircraft. It features all modern-day amenities, including flatbeds in Business Class.
Ajith Dias, Chairman of Sri Lanka’s national carrier expressed delight at the launch of the new service, noting that “it would bring great convenience to all segments of travellers, including the large number of Sri Lankans.”
It is important to note that Sri Lankans form a sizable community in Australia with growing number of youngsters travelling for education.
Suren Ratwatte, CEO of SriLankan Airlines shared that the airlines had been systematically extending its route network throughout Asia – from the Middle East to the Far East – and “could now provide Australian travellers excellent options in connectivity, with one-stop journeys to the most popular destinations via Colombo.”
For the uninitiated, Sri Lankan airlines currently services 14 Indian cities and 9 in the Middle East, apart from linking several island nations in the Indian ocean region, and is a member of Oneworld Alliance.