Chennai-Jaffna flights to operate daily from July 16: Union Minister Scindia

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Sri Lanka's Jaffna will be increased from four times a week to daily services from July 16, a move that will also amplify trade and commerce, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said. Scindia made the announcement in a pre-recorded video message on the second day of the 67th annual convention of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) being hosted in Colombo.

Over 500 tourism, aviation and travel experts, and tour operators have gathered in Colombo for the Indian Travel Congress. He said the convention, taking place in the island nation, highlighted the old cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.

«I believe that our partnership with Sri Lanka gives us a rare opportunity to undertake several reforms to address short-term challenges of the sector» and become an important power of influence in the global aviation ecosystem, Scindia said. «The first air service agreement between the two countries was signed in 1968, which allowed Indian carriers to operate aircraft from any point in India to any point in Sri Lanka, which enhanced the connectivity to the Global South,» he said.

Currently, 16 flights are operational from different sectors of India to Colombo, the minister added. «Today, through this platform, I am happy to announce that based on increased demand and potential of this route, to amplify trade and commerce, we will increase this frequency from four times a week to daily flights, effective from July 16,» Scindia said.

«Cargo movement has also been smoothed, and with the assistance from both governments, we are operating a direct flight from Chennai to Jaffna,» he added. In December 2022, India and Sri Lanka resumed flight services between Chennai and Jaffna, three years after the island