SriLankan launches flights to Goa

New Delhi, Nov 2: SriLankan (Airlines) has launched flights to Goa, its 10th destination in India and 50th globally.

Goa will initially have two flights per week -- on Mondays and Saturdays -- with an Airbus A320 aircraft. Flying time is about two hours, departing Colombo at 0530 hrs. Return flights leave Goa at 0830 hrs.

SriLankan is the largest foreign carrier into India with 87 flights per week. These include 15 to Chennai, 13 to Thiruvananthapuram, 11 to Kochi, 10 to Trichy, 8 to Calicut and daily to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The recently concluded air services meeting in Colombo has also provided the airline with the opportunity to add an additional 7 flights to Mumbai this winter.

''The launch of services to Goa is an important element in our business strategy throughout India,'' said the airline's chief commercial officer Barry Brown. We have positioned Colombo as the gateway to south Asia and are constantly seeking to expand our activities in India.'' Sri Lanka has been given permission to add another 7 frequencies to Mumbai. The airline hopes to start double daily services in the near future.

''We are definitely on target towards launching 100 flights per week in either direction,'' said Mr Brown.

The airline also increasing capacity by deploying wide-bodied aircraft as the quantum of passengers grows.

UNI