“By the start of the second quarter of 2024, the number of airlines operating flights to Sri Lanka will exceed 40, mirroring the pre-pandemic figures, signalling ongoing interest in the country as a travel hotspot,” Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., Marketing and Corporate Communications Head Dr. Sumith de Silva told the Daily FT.

He highlighted the significant growth trajectory in airline operations, citing that most of the international airlines have resumed their operations gradually after the COVID pandemic and economic crisis, contributing to the resurgence of the aviation sector.

“A total of 36 top global international airlines are operating flights to Sri Lanka, with 32 of them providing services to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), while three airlines operate flights to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and one airline serves Jaffna International Airport (JIA),” he said.