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Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Dr. Chris Nonis said that the fact that British Airways, the UK’s national carrier and third largest airline in Europe, has taken the decision to resume flights to Sri Lanka is an excellent index of their substantial confidence in Sri Lanka and its future growth potential.
British Airways suspended its flights to Sri Lanka in the late 1990s due to security reasons and resumes flights to Sri Lanka after a 15-year absence in the island, and is represented by the Hayleys Group, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in Sri Lanka.
The country offers a wealth of culture, history, heritage, and rich diversity of experiences from pristine beaches and stunning landscapes to wildlife and adventure, all within a compact location, and was named the top travel destination for 2013 by British Airways. The UK was the second largest source of tourists to Sri Lanka in 2012 at over 114, 000, from a total of over one million, Dr. Nonis said.
Keith Williams, Chief Executive Officer of British Airways, took the inaugural flight on 14 April and spoke at the Sri Lankan High Commission about his confidence in Sri Lanka. British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom and the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. Following its merger with Iberia, the International Airlines Group, IAG, created the world’s third-largest airline in terms of annual revenue and the second largest airline group in Europe, serving over 150 destinations.
Williams said: “This is an extremely exciting new route for us. Sri Lanka is experiencing a boom in tourism, and the industry is expected to grow further. The addition of BA would give British tourists additional flexibility, and create value for both the aviation and tourism sectors. The UK has the second largest number of tourists visiting the island after India, so it’s a great opportunity for them to fly there with British Airways.”
“We will be operating flights to Sri Lanka from UK’s Gatwick Airport to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport via Male in the Maldives. We will operate Boeing 777s, long-range wide-body twin-engine jet airliners, in a three class configuration on a thrice-a-week flight schedule to Colombo. I am looking forward to our inaugural flight, at the time of New Year celebrations, and the dawn of a new opportunity for the UK and Sri Lanka.”
