India’s popular low cost carrier, GoAir has selected Sri Lanka as its first international destination for this year expressing confidence in the country’s travel market and conducive environment.
“Sri Lanka will be our first destination in the new decade and the 10th in its network with plans to launch flights to Sri Lanka from Delhi and Bangalore from March 20. The entry into Sri Lanka was in line with the growth strategy that we adopted since 2018 for international markets,” GoAir, Vice President, Sales, Ruchika Singh said in Colombo last week.
The airline is working in partnership with the aviation sector of Aitken Spence PLC, its General Sales Agent (GSA) in Colombo. “When we launched our international operations, Sri Lanka was very much a part of our growth plan. There has been an exponential improvement in the trade and investment environment between India and Sri Lanka over the recent years, particularly in the areas of education, culture, defence and tourism,” she said.
GoAir styling itself as the fastest growing airline, stepped into the international market in 2018, with the launch of flights to Phuket followed by Malé, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuwait and Dammam.
The airline has introduced two new routes daily except Wednesdays with attractively priced return fares for Colombo-Delhi-Colombo and Colombo-Bengaluru-Colombo flights. “Sri Lanka is an important destination in South Asia, known for attracting both business and leisure travellers. GoAir has a desire to cater to those segments by providing punctual, affordable and convenient operations. GoAir has the highest load factor, lowest number of cancellations and lowest number of complaints,” Singh said.
Aitken Spence PLC Director and Head of Business Development and Plantations, Dr. Rohan Fernando said Royal Spence, a fully owned subsidiary of Aitken Spence, is pleased to be associated with this airline partnership of GoAir marking Sri Lanka as its 10th international destination.
GoAir is the aviation foray of India’s 283-year-old Wadia Group that comprises leading brands including Bombay Burmah, Bombay Dyeing, Britannia Ltd., National Peroxide Limited and Bombay Realty.