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Flydubai starts services to Sri Lanka
DUBAI - Dubai’s first low cost carrier flydubai notched up its fourth new destination in a week and 21st on its route map when its inaugural flight to Sri Lanka touched down in Colombo on June 23.
Chief executive of the budget airline Ghaith Al Ghaith, who travelled on the inaugural flight, said: “I am confident this new route will be a popular one. Especially since a one way fare with flydubai costs from just Dh450, including all taxes, charges and one piece of hand luggage.”
Travel to Sri Lanka has shown a significant increase so far this year, with a 106 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2010, according to the Sri Lankan tourism board.
“Sri Lanka is always a popular destination for tourists. Flydubai’s simple, uncomplicated, quality, low fare service to Colombo will be popular with travellers in both directions and will help to stimulate this growing market,” Al Ghaith said.
Sri Lanka’s economy has seen sustained growth in the last few years, recovering from a turbulent period marked by civil war and natural disasters. The country has shaken off these setbacks and started to re-emerge by recording a 3.5 per cent estimated GDP growth in 2009, helped along by extensive foreign investment, including trade with the UAE.
Both countries are actively engaging in stimulating further bilateral trade and the flydubai service will help strengthen these ties.
The low cost carrier will operate four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. FZ555 leaves Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 at 1855hrs and arrives in Colombo at 0110hrs local time the following day. The return flight FZ556 leaves Colombo at 0210hrs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Dubai at 0510hrs local time.
Sri Lanka is a diverse and culturally rich country, with a strong history as a trading society as well as having a documented history of royal families that stretches back 2000 years. Visitors are attracted to Sri Lanka by its mix as an exotic getaway offering tea plantations, beautiful beaches and tropical highland forests. Colombo is the commercial hub and is home to more than 700,000 of the island’s 20 million residents.
abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com
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