Monday, 08th December 2014
Fourth destination in China
SriLankan Airlines, in a move to meet the increasing demands for air services between China and Sri Lanka initiated operations to Kunming last Monday.
The airline currently operates 15 weekly flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong and with this initiative, has made its presence in South-Western China as well.
SriLankan Airlines, Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena said SriLankan Airlines has always viewed the Far East as one of its priority markets where a gradual increase in the number of tourists seeking Sri Lanka for holidaying has driven the airline to look into more expansion opportunities to cater to the growing demand as well as to motivate more travelers from both countries to explore the beauty of the two destinations. Moreover, SriLankan has been constantly enhancing its product and services to meet the demands of the modern day traveller.
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The flights pilot Capt. Praveen Wettimuny receiving the blessings before departure to Kunming |
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Sri Lanka's Ambassador in China Ranjith Uyangoda with SriLankan Airlines 'Worldwide Sales Head, Lal Perera, Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager, Saminda Perera, China Manager, Dimuthu Tennakoon and Kunming Manager, Asela Ambepitiya at the inauguration ceremony held in Kunming. |
The CEO said the first all new A330-300 aircraft which was added to the fleet recently as part of their wide-body fleet renewal programme, will be assigned primarily on the Far Eastern Routes such as Bangkok, Tokyo,Canton and Beijing.
“China is very much part of the long term strategy of SriLankan to evolve its network,”the CEO said at the inauguration ceremony held at the Katunayake airport where religious ceremonies were held before departure on December 1.Capt.Praveen Wettimuny piloted the first flight to Kunming.Elaborating on the Airlines’ expansion plans, Chandrasena added, “SriLankan had operated Charter flights from Kunming in the past, and this initiative comes into being after various evaluations and many tourism promotional activities conducted in the region by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.”
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CEO Kapila Chandrasena |
With 54,000 Chinese travellers choosing the national carrier to travel to the island in 2013, the airline, due to the high demand from the sector, expects a total of 120,000-140,000 Chinese travellers to visit and experience the country by the end of this year.
For the first four months ending 30 April, the number of travellers from China to Sri Lanka on SriLankan Airlines was 36,000.While, Kunming, with many attractions such museums, galleries and other important economic, cultural and educational institutions, is expected attract many leisure and business travellers from South Asian and Middle Eastern regions, SriLankan also gives the residents of the Yunnan Province the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and rich heritage of Sri Lanka.
SriLankan operates three weekly flights, departing Kunming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 0225 hrs to arrive in Colombo at 0545 hrs.
Also, the Airlines will operate three departing flights from Colombo on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1835 hrs to arrive in Kunming at 0150 hrs.
Passengers will also get the opportunity to enjoy the relaxing ambience and easy reclining seating on board SriLankan Airlines’ A320 aircraft that will be operated on the route.In addition to scheduled operations to China, SriLankan currently operates a weekly charter flight to Chongqing which will continue till mid-December until we resume operations in January next year.”
This addition of a new destination will benefit the passengers who are seeking onward connections to Middle East, India and the Maldives.
SriLankan operates 40 flights a week to eight Middle Eastern cities, with 88 weekly flights to seven Indian destinations and 36 weekly frequencies to Male. SriLankan passengers are able to board connecting flights from Colombo. Having welcomed the one millionth Chinese tourist to Sri Lanka in September this year, Sri Lanka has seen a marked increase in number of Chinese travellers arriving in the country compared to last year.
According to Sri Lanka Tourist Board statistics, from January to October this year, Sri Lanka has received 106,888 tourists from China, which is a 139% increase compared to the number (44,742) recorded during the same period last year.In April this year, SriLankan Airlines started operating eight direct flights a week to Beijing and Shanghai and out of which four flights operate via the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.
(PM)
From : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=business/srilankan-flies-direct-kunming
