Seven international airlines announce plans to operate scheduled flight to Sri Lanka
A total of seven international airlines have reportedly announced plans to operate scheduled flights to Sri Lanka once the airport reopens on 21 January, local media reports stated.
According to the report, the international airlines are Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Kuwait Airlines and Oman Airlines.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority official has been quoted as saying in Daily FT that these airlines were yet to file their schedule of flights but were likely to do so by next week.
Industry sources have said given the COVID-19 pandemic the frequency of flights would be kept at a minimum and increase in tandem with demand for air travel to and from Sri Lanka.
The government of Sri Lanka has announced that all airports would be reopened for commercial flights and international tourists from 21 January with due compliance to Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.
In addition, Ukrainian flag carrier Ukraine International Airlines and charter operator SkyUp Airlines is to continue to bring in tourists, while India’s Indigo and Maldivian Airlines will also deploy services.
With a few days to go for the re-opening of the borders for international leisure visitors, Sri Lanka Tourism has reportedly undertaken a massive awareness session on new Covid-19 health and safety protocols for all industry stakeholders.
Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has recently said the country hoped to attract 1.5 million tourists this year with the implementation of proper Covid-19 health and safety guidelines, as the government was keen on resuming tourism, to improve the economy battered by the pandemic.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s move to reopen airports will help rebound the country’s tourism industry that was temporarily affected due to the global Covid 19 pandemic. The country’s tourism industry was one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country until Covid 19. However, the tourism industry has shown much resilience during the past and already shows potential of a quick rebound. The tourism pilot project launched last month has helped the tourism industry earn a revenue of Rs. 42 million in a few weeks. Sri Lanka has been listed as a must visit destination by several leading global travel publications and the safety and hygienic certification received by the country will also make the island an attractive destination for post Covid 19 travel. All these have expanded business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210119/Z_1 |