Air India, the national carrier of India, has introduced the latest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for the operations of the Colombo-Chennai and Colombo-Delhi routes.
According to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), the inaugural flight was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today (July 01) with a ceremonial water salute.
Air India currently operates 10 flights per week on the Colombo-Chennai route and 7 flights per week on the Colombo-Delhi route.
In 2023, India emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest tourism market, contributing 302,844 tourists, which accounted for 21% of the total arrivals. This strong performance has continued into 2024, with India maintaining its status as the top source market for tourists year-to-date.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent economic crisis. The island nation, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, is once again welcoming travellers from around the globe.
Accordingly, reaching the important milestone of promoting Sri Lanka as a destination across the globe, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), in collaboration with the AASL, welcomed the one millionth tourist arrival to Sri Lanka last Saturday (June 29).
The AASL said it congratulates Air India for the new value addition at BIA and is happy to facilitate the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner at BIA. Hayleys PLC is the appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for Air India in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)