SriLankan Airlines increases flights to Riyadh

Thursday, 6 December 2012 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SriLankan Airlines is to introduce three more flights to Riyadh, thereby increasing the total number of flights to five per week effective from 13 December 2012. The increased frequency would facilitate enhanced outbound travel from Saudi Arabia to Colombo, with convenient connections to several cities in India and Far East.

SriLankan Airlines Head of Worldwide Sales Lal Perera said, “The Middle East is considered one of the fastest growing regions in the world. SriLankan, being in the forefront of the international air transportation industry, sees a great potential in facilitating the growing demand for air travel. Therefore the increased frequency to Riyadh reflects the commitment of the SriLankan in providing world class service under the theme ‘You are our world.’”

SriLankan currently flies to 11 Middle Eastern destinations and operates a total of 59 flights a week to Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah, Amman and Sharjah. The airline’s full network spans 64 destinations in 35 countries worldwide in Europe, North America, Canada, India, the Far East and Middle East.

SriLankan operates an all Airbus fleet consisting of A320, A330 and A340 aircraft to the Middle East, which include comfortable fleet furnished with luxurious interior, leather seats the latest state-of-the-art Panasonic EFX inflight entertainment systems in all Business and Economy Class seats. In addition passengers who purchase a ticket to Riyadh are entitled to 30 kilograms of free baggage allowance.

Predominantly, the Middle East market consists of individuals travelling for reasons that range from pilgrimage to leisure to business and trade. According to statistics maintained by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, 86% of the Sri Lankan labour market has been absorbed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, U.A.E., and Jordan. The increased flights to Riyadh, the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, is a viable initiative which reflects SriLankan Airlines commitment to support migrant employees, and to win more tourists from the Arab market to ‘Destination Sri Lanka.’