Travel Information

Monthly Newsletter

Aviation

• Direct air-links between  Sri Lanka and Nepal
• Sri Lankan Airlines wins double accolade
• Sri Lankan and Etihad in new Codeshare partnership
• SriLankan is world’s first Airline to fly  London-Male-London non-stop return
• Mihin Air to fly in December
• Maldives National carrier commences operations to Colombo
• Jazeera Airways flies to Sri Lanka
• Emirates to terminate Male  Colombo operations

In a bid to boost tourism between Nepal and Sri Lanka, a direct air link between Lumbini in Nepal, the birth place of the Buddha and Colombo, capital city of Sri Lanka, is under review.

The need was discussed between the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the newly elected Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', when they met on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this week.

Lumbini is a prime Buddist pilgrimage site located in Kapilavastu district of Nepal on the foothills of the Himalaya where Gautama the Buddha, was born in 563 BC. Sri Lanka is home to many sites of significance to Buddhist pilgrimage, principal among them being the Dalada Dathuwa, housed in the Sacred Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, a two hour drive from Colombo and the sapling of the sacred Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura.

At the Indian International Travel Mart (IITM) held at the Bangalore Palace Grounds in   Bangalore, the national carrier was recognised for projecting the airlines offer with an attractive stall, which earned them the award for the Most Attractive Display. 

Themed ‘Simply Sri Lanka’ which displayed the offer of shopping, culture, and the  diverse climates within short reach, went on to earn the airline the second award at the Chennai Travel Mart making it a double win from one destination.  

Last year, SriLankan also became the first foreign carrier to achieve 100 flights per week to India, and serves 11 cities at present. 

Sri Lankan Airlines and Etihad Airways have joined hands in a historic partnership between the National carriers  of Sri Lanka and the UAE which will significantly enhance the route networks of both airlines.   From 1st October ‘08 Sri Lankan Airlines  commenced codesharing on Etihad flights to Amman, Geneva, Dublin, Munich, Brussels and Manchester.  Etihad will do the same on Sri Lankan’s flights to Male.  The initial partnership between the two award winning airlines commenced in September 2007 when Etihad began codesharing on Sri Lankan flights between Abu Dhabi and Colombo. 

SriLankan is world’s first Airline to fly London-Male-London non-stop return
Sri Lankan Airlines has become the world’s first Airline to fly London-Male-London non-stop return. 

Sri Lanka’s National Carrier, for many years was the largest operator to the Maldives introduced a new service from Male to London Heathrow recently. 

Mihin Air to fly in December
Sri Lanka’s budget airline Mihin Lanka will be re-launched from December, 08.  the airline  will lease an aircraft from a western country to re-launch these operations.  The airline is expected to concentrate on the Indian and Middle East sector. 

Maldives National carrier commences operations to Colombo
The National Carrier of the Republic of Maldives commenced operations to Colombo with effect from 20th November 2008.  Please find below their flight schedule.

Dates of Operation  :    Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Flight schedule        :    Male / Colombo               1800 hrs. / 2030 hrs.
                                         Colombo / Male               2115 hrs. / 2245 hrs.

Jazeera Airways flies to Sri Lanka
Jazeera Airways have commenced operation to Sri Lanka with effect from the 20th Nov, 2008. ‘Favourite Holidays’ has been named the Sales Agent for Jazeera Airways.

Jazeera has been in operations since 2005 and is one of the worlds leading low fare airlines, flying to popular destinations in the middle East for both business and leisure travelers.

With a fleet of brand new Airbus aircraft, Jazeera Airways offers a new meaning to the word 'low fares' as all aircraft offer a Business Class cabin and plush leather seats on all classes of travel, together with an award winning Frequent Flyer Programme on a route network that serves many destinations within globe.

Emirates to terminate Male Colombo operations
Emirates Airlines is to stop its operations to Colombo from Male due to changes in the company policies.
The airline currently operates 5 flights per week between Colombo and Male but as of 1st December the airline will suspend all its operations between Male and Colombo.