Sri Lanka opens new flight path to Africa via Seychelles
View(s):Sri Lanka is opening a route to Africa, for the first time, with budget carrier Mihin Lanka launching twice-weekly flights to the tourism destination of Seychelles.
Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman of both SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka, said this will not only connect Sri Lanka to the Seychelles but to the vast African Continent which both airlines are looking forward to serve the region.
The small, local carrier will start flights to the Seychelles capital, Mahe next month.
“This move will connect two of the most exotic islands complimenting each other’s air services in the African Continent, the Indian Ocean and beyond,”
a statement from SriLankan Airlines said.
The opening of the new route follows an air services agreement between the two governments, following an official visit to the Seychelles by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June this year.
As a codeshare partner with Mihin on the Seychelles route, national carrier, SriLankan Airlines adds yet another destination to its network which will total 65 in 35 countries. Mihin Lanka’s network expands to nine destinations.
Seychelles comprises a total of 115 islands of granite or coral that make up six island groups, occupying a land area of 455 square kms and an Exclusive Economic Zone in the Western Indian Ocean. It lies just south of the Equator and around 500 km from the east coast of Africa.
SriLankan Airlines’ and Mihin Lanka CEO, Kapila Chandrasena said “Seychelles and Sri Lanka have agreed to a wide-ranging commercial agreement that will give passengers boarding in Seychelles convenient access to new points in South Asia and the Far East and passengers boarding in Colombo, easy access to Air Seychelles regional network in the Indian Ocean and Africa.”
Mihin Lanka flights scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday will depart Colombo
(CMB) at 1330hrs and arrive in Mahe (SEZ) at 1610hrs while the return flight will depart Mahe at 1710hrs and arrive in Colombo at 2300hrs.
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