Indigo starts Mumbai-Colombo direct flights 

AIRPORT and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., announced that Indigo, one of India’s leading airlines, has broadened its connectivity to Sri Lanka by introducing direct flights from Mumbai to Colombo, effective from 12 April 2024.

The new route will see Indigo operating flights three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Indigo currently operates flights to three destinations in India from Colombo: Chennai twice daily, Bengaluru once daily, and Hyderabad six days per week. With the addition of the Mumbai-Colombo route, the airline’s network will now cover four key destinations, offering a total of 30 weekly flights to Colombo from major cities in India.

The expansion of service underscores the airline’s commitment to facilitating seamless travel experiences and fostering stronger ties between Sri Lanka and India.

AASL Chairman Eng. Athula Galketiya expressed enthusiasm about the new developments.

“AASL recently had successful negotiations with Indigo to commence flight operations between Jaffna and Chennai, India. Accordingly, Indigo will commence direct flight operations between Jaffna and Chennai from 1 June 2024 onwards with daily flight operations. This connectivity will boost travel and trade in the Northern Province, strengthening the cultural and religious bonds between the two countries further,” he disclosed.

The expansion in service comes amidst a significant uptick in tourism to Sri Lanka. In 2022, the country welcomed 716,427 tourists by air, a figure that surged to 1,452,310 in 2023. This trend has continued into 2024, with 628,580 tourists arriving in the first three months alone, highlighting sustained interest in Sri Lanka as a destination. Projections indicate a further rise, with expectations of 2.2 to 2.4 million tourists by the end of 2024.