FitsAir to launch Ahmedabad–Colombo direct flights from June
Newswire: Sri Lanka is expanding air connectivity with western India as part of efforts to boost tourism, with direct Ahmedabad–Colombo services set to begin from 19 June.
FitsAir will operate the route three times a week, cutting travel time from nearly nine hours with stopovers to about three hours.
Tourism officials say India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market. Speaking to WION, Kamal Munasinghe of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts said India contributed around 500,000 tourist arrivals last year, with further growth expected this year. He described Ahmedabad as an untapped market despite existing direct links from other Indian cities.
Industry representatives highlighted Gujarat’s strong outbound travel demand and cultural ties with Sri Lanka as key factors behind the expansion. Walkers Tours chief executive Nalaka Amaratunga said India accounted for about 24 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total arrivals in 2025, with more than 531,000 Indian visitors recorded.
He also pointed to rising demand for MICE tourism, with Sri Lanka increasingly hosting Indian corporate events supported by upgraded hospitality infrastructure and integrated resort developments in Colombo.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s expanding air connectivity with western India marks another positive step in the country’s tourism revival and broader economic growth. The launch of direct Ahmedabad–Colombo flights by FitsAir from 19 June is expected to significantly improve accessibility for Indian travellers, reducing travel time to just three hours and making Sri Lanka an even more attractive destination for leisure, business and religious tourism. The steady increase in international flights to Sri Lanka reflects growing global confidence in the country’s tourism industry. As visitor arrivals continue to rise, new business/investment opportunities are emerging across multiple sectors. Hospitality and leisure remain key areas, with strong demand for hotels, resorts, boutique villas, wellness tourism and entertainment experiences. There is also growing potential in transport, aviation support services, retail, food and beverage, and digital tourism platforms. Foreign businesses/investors are increasingly exploring opportunities in real estate development, tourism infrastructure, eco-tourism projects and MICE tourism facilities. In addition, Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its proximity to India position the country as an attractive regional hub for travel, trade and services. With improved connectivity and a recovering tourism sector, Sri Lanka is steadily strengthening its appeal as a destination for both travellers and international investors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260603Z_1 |