Due to high demand of travel between Chennai & Jafna, demonstrated by over 21,000 passengers in nine months, this direct flight has been introduced to boost regional connectivity
IndiGo has announced Jaffna, Sri Lanka as the newest addition in its international route network. The airline will start non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna, starting September 01, 2024. Jaffna will be the second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo for IndiGo, making it the 34th international and 122nd overall destination in its extensive 6E network.
This strategic announcement will further strengthen the strong cultural and trade ties between India and Sri Lanka that have been marked by cooperation in the field of commerce, infrastructure development and air connectivity.
India has consistently held the position of the top 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 an increasing interest for travel to Jaffna. In this context, IndiGo’s latest route announcement to Jaffna will enhance accessibility across the region. Jaffna will complement IndiGo’s existing flights to Colombo, offering travellers a secondary market access point in Sri Lanka.
Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said, “In addition to these daily flights from Chennai to Jaffna, we also offer 30 weekly frequencies from 4 points in India to Colombo. This 75-minute flight would significantly reduce travel time, making Jaffna, Sri Lanka even more accessible. We are continuously working towards providing our customers with superior connectivity and enhanced accessibility to explore new horizons with our ever-expanding range of 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 provides a timely boost to this resurgence, offering seamless connectivity and tapping into a key market for Sri Lanka’s tourism revival.
