A new direct air service between Ahmedabad and Colombo will be launched on Friday, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities from around eight hours to just three hours.
Operated by FitsAir, the new route will connect Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat with Colombo three times a week, marking the first direct air link between the two destinations after several unsuccessful attempts in the past.
The initiative has been facilitated by Cinnamon Hotels and Walkers Tours, in what industry stakeholders describe as a pioneering effort to strengthen tourism and travel links between India and Sri Lanka.
Tourism officials say India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market. Speaking to media, Kamal Munasinghe of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts said India contributed around 500,000 tourist arrivals last year, with further growth expected this year. He described Ahmedabad as an untapped market despite existing direct links from other Indian cities.
The state’s strong travel trade network and growing demand for international holidays have made it an important focus for Sri Lankan tourism promotion efforts.
Sri Lanka cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya will be among the distinguished guests attending the launch of the inaugural flight, highlighting the significance of the new connection between the two countries. (Newswire)