India’s IndiGo has resumed several key air links between India and Sri Lanka, strengthening travel connectivity between the two neighbouring countries and reopening a vital direct route to the Northern Province.
Daily flights between New Delhi and Colombo and Bengaluru and Colombo resumed on October 1, providing renewed direct connections for tourists, business travellers and other passengers travelling between the two countries.
The airline has also restarted direct flights between Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu and Jaffna International Airport, following a three-month suspension.
The Trichy-Jaffna service will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights will depart Trichy at 1:05 p.m. and arrive in Jaffna at 1:50 p.m., while the return service will leave Jaffna at 2:30 p.m.
A total of 88 round-trip passengers travelled on the route on its first day back in operation.
The restoration of the Trichy-Jaffna connection has been welcomed by residents in the North, who say the direct service significantly reduces travel time to India. The route is also expected to strengthen longstanding cultural, family and commercial links between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.
The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation said the restoration and expansion of these air connections would contribute to tourism, trade, economic activity and closer people-to-people ties between Sri Lanka and India.
