Aeroflot plans to resume flights from Moscow to Colombo, Sri Lanka, beginning on October 9, the Russian flagship carrier said in a statement. The company will operate flights twice per week initially.
Flights to Bangkok, Thailand, will resume on October 30, and there will be seven flights per week, the statement said. Moreover, the airline will operate up to three flights per week to Goa, India, beginning on November 2.
Flights will be carried out on a wide-body Airbus A330. Aeroflot suspended flights to Shri-Lanka in June after one of its airplanes was seized in Colombo.
An Airbus A330 arrived in Shri-Lanka to collect passengers and return to Moscow, but was unable to take off due to an order issued by a local court that had received an appeal filed by an Irish company linked to the aircraft’s lessor. The plane was able to leave Shri-Lanka after several days when the court reversed its decision.
Aeroflot General Director Sergei Alexandrovsky earlier announced plans to open flights from Moscow to Bangkok and Goa on the winter timetable. Other destinations considered included Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, as well as Dubai, Alexandrovsky said.
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited said that Aeroflot Airlines recommenced its flight operations last year to Colombo from Moscow with a flight frequency of 2 flights a week between Moscow and Colombo after one year due to Covid19 out break in the island before the suspension of its flights this year.
The first flight, (SU284) with a total number of 240 passengers arrived at 10.50 hrs at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on 21st November 2021.
Aeroflot-Russian Airlines will initially operate flights every Friday and Sunday and it will increase the frequency up to five times a week in the near future.
Aeroflot-Russian Airlines is the oldest international airline that operated international flights to Colombo and it has been operating the Moscow-Colombo route since 1964. Aeroflot had to stop operations to Colombo in 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
This route development will boost the tourism industry in Sri Lanka especially in the post-pandemic period.
Russia has been one of the most reliable and friendly destinations for Sri Lanka to attract tourists and for many decades.
Russian inbound tourism has been showing its great potential as an important source market for the development of the travel and tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is steadily becoming one of the emerging popular destinations for Russian tourists.
Therefore, the recommencement of the Aeroflot airlines to Sri Lanka will immensely contribute to the booming aviation, travel, and tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
