Jaffna is Now IndiGo’s 34th Global Destination

IndiGo has announced that Jaffna, Sri Lanka, will be the newest addition to its international route network. The airline will commence non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna starting September 1, 2024. Jaffna will be IndiGo’s second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo, making it the 34th international and 122nd overall destination in its extensive 6E network.

This announcement is expected to strengthen the cultural and trade ties between India and Sri Lanka and enhance cooperation in commerce, infrastructure development, and air connectivity. Flight bookings opened on August 1, 2024.

India has consistently been the primary market for international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. In June 2024, Indian arrivals accounted for 25.2% of the total, with over 28,631 travellers, compared to a 26.7% share in June 2023, with around 26,830 passengers. There is also a growing interest in travel to Jaffna. IndiGo’s new route to Jaffna will further enhance accessibility across the region and provide travellers with an additional access point in Sri Lanka.

Mr Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, expressed his pleasure in announcing Jaffna as the new destination in Sri Lanka. He mentioned that this new daily flight from Chennai to Jaffna, combined with the 30 weekly frequencies from four points in India to Colombo, would significantly reduce travel time and make Jaffna more accessible. The 75-minute flight aims to provide customers superior connectivity and enhanced accessibility to explore new travel options.

The demand for travel between Chennai and Jaffna is evident, with over 21,000 passengers flying the route in just nine months last year. IndiGo’s new direct flight aims to boost this resurgence, offer seamless connectivity, and tap into a critical market for Sri Lanka’s tourism revival. India and Sri Lanka share a rich legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious, and trade relations over 2,500 years.

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