The airline says that India has consistently held the position of the top primary market for international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka
IndiGo, India’s largest airline and among the fastest growing low-cost carriers in the world, has announced Jaffna in Sri Lanka as the newest addition in its international route network.
In a press statement, IndiGo says it will start non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna, from September 1.
It adds that this will make Jaffna the second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo for IndiGo and the 34th international and 122nd overall destination in its 6E network.
IndiGo 6E 1177 flight will depart from Chennai at 13:55 to arrive in Jaffna at 15:10. On the return leg, flight 6E 1178 will take off from Jaffna at 15:55 to arrive in Chennai at 17:10.
The airline says that the new flight will further strengthen the strong cultural and trade ties between India and Sri Lanka that have been marked by cooperation in the fields of commerce, infrastructure development and air connectivity.
The airline says that India has consistently held the position of the top primary market for international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.
In June 2024, Indian arrivals accounted for 25.2 pc of the total, with over 28,631 travellers, compared to a 26.7 pc share in June 2023, with around 26,830 passengers.
There is also an increasing interest in travel to Jaffna. In this context, IndiGo says its latest route announcement to Jaffna will enhance accessibility across the region. Bookings for the flight are now open.
Jaffna will complement IndiGo’s existing flights to Colombo, offering travellers a secondary market access point in Sri Lanka.
Vinay Malhotra
“We are pleased to announce Jaffna as our new destination in Sri Lanka, which will serve as a catalyst in enhancing trade and tourism between our two countries. In addition to these daily flights from Chennai to Jaffna, we also offer 30 weekly frequencies from four points in India to Colombo,” says Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo.
“This 75-minute flight would significantly reduce travel time, making Jaffna, Sri Lanka even more accessible. We are continuously working towards providing our customers with superior connectivity and enhanced accessibility to explore new horizons with our ever-expanding range of travel options,” Malhotra adds.
The airline adds that demand for travel between Chennai and Jaffna is evident, with over 21,000 passengers flying the route in just nine months last year.
IndiGo says the new direct flight provides a timely boost to this resurgence, offering connectivity and tapping into a key market for Sri Lanka’s tourism revival. India and Sri Lanka share a rich legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and trade relations spanning over 2,500 years.
"
