Air India, the national carrier of India, has introduced the latest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for operations on the Colombo-Chennai and Colombo-Delhi routes.
According to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), the inaugural flight was welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today (1) 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 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 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 travelers from around the globe.
Reaching an important milestone in promoting Sri Lanka as a global destination, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), in collaboration with AASL, celebrated the arrival of the one millionth tourist last Saturday (June 29).
AASL congratulated Air India on this new addition at BIA and expressed its satisfaction in facilitating the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Hayleys PLC is the appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for Air India in Sri Lanka.