SRI LANKAN AIRLINES STEP-UP EUROPEAN SERVICES

Sri Lanka’S national carrier is coming back to Paris this winter after reopening services to Moscow in July. The airline is capitalising on the full reopening of Sri Lanka to vaccinated travellers.

Sri Lankan Airlines is looking with optimism into the future of Sri Lankan tourism as it is stepping up its frequencies to Europe. The airline already offers six weekly services to London Heathrow (daily except on Tuesday) as well as to Frankfurt (every day except on Wednesday).

Last July, Sri Lankan Airlines resumed nonstop flights to Moscow after an absence of more than six years. The carrier offers, for the time being, a weekly service from Colombo to Moscow Domodedovo airport with an Airbus A330-300.

With its return to Paris in November, Sri Lankan reopens an important route in Europe. The carrier suspended its Paris services in 2016. SriLankan Airlines will serve Paris Charles de Gaulle from Colombo three times per week – on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The airline plans to use an Airbus A330-300 on the route, configured with 269 economy and 28 business-class seats.

“As more international destinations ease travel restrictions, SriLankan Airlines is revving up its services to provide more choice and convenience for passengers,” CEO Vipula Gunatilleka said to the air services website Routesonline. “Paris is a hub for the rest of Europe, and direct flights will boost tourist arrivals during the winter season.”

In another development, the carrier confirmed it will start trialing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass. Since October 1, 2021, the carrier has been using the IATA facility for vaccinated or Covid negative travellers on air sectors from Colombo to Dubai, London Heathrow, Melbourne and return.

source https://news.itb.com/regional-spotlight/asia/sri-lankan-european-flights/