Sri Lanka will see visitors from the Russian Federation resume their travel to the island nation once again, with efforts underway to increase flights between Russia and Colombo.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase in the number of flights between Moscow and “friendly states”which resulted in the resumption of flights by third Russian airlines, the Russian embassy in Sri Lanka said.
Russian travelers are leading Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in the 2022 winter season as the Indian Ocean Island undergoing the worst currency crisis in the history of its soft-pegged central bank.
From November 1-24, Sri Lanka has welcomed 45,560 tourists led by 11,041 Russian holiday makers, followed by 8,075 Indians and 3,569 British.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow announced yesterday that Red Wings Airlines, a Russian regional leisure airline based in Moscow, will start charter flight operations to Sri Lanka’s Mattala Airport, twice per week with effect from December 28, 2022.
This is the third Russian Airline serving direct flights to Sri Lanka after the resumption of flights by Aeroflot and Azur Air recently, the embassy said in a statement.
According to the commercial director of the Airline, Mr. I. V. Tretiakov, the first few flights are fully booked and that it is supported as well by the Russian top tour operators working in partnership with the Red Wings Airline.
Red Wings Airline planes are expected to switch to the regular flights as soon as the accreditation is granted by the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority and gradually increase the number of flights.
“Given that the Russian Federation could be regarded as an important tourist traffic source to Sri Lanka at this trying time, this Embassy is of the view that this flight resumption will be of vital importance to the Sri Lankan tourism industry.”
The flag carrier of Russia, Aeroflot, begins to operate two flights per week, starting Sunday, October 9.
As Russia’s largest charter airline resumed services to Colombo. An Azur Air flight arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport here with 335 passengers onboard, according to media reports.
Permission has also been given by regional airline Azur Air to fly four charter flights per week, starting early November.
“We cordially solicit Russian tourists to choose to visit Sri Lanka while enjoying the convenience of direct flight experience,” the embassy further said.
A Russian airlines Aeroflot flight arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport on October 10, resuming flights between Moscow and Colombo after a lapse of 4 months
