Lanka, Korea holds air services consultations

Sri Lanka and Korea concluded a successful round of air services consultations in expanding bilateral air transport arrangements between the two countries in Seoul, Korea last week.

During the consultations, the Sri Lankan delegates agreed to grant traffic rights for Korean Air to operate flights to Maldives via Colombo and the Korean side agreed to grant traffic rights for SriLankan Airlines to operate to Seoul from Colombo via Hong Kong.

Accordingly, Korean Air will commence direct flights from Seoul to Colombo three times a week from March 9 and will operate flights to Maldives from Colombo and will return to Seoul from Male via Colombo, thereby re-establishing direct air links between Sri Lanka and Korea after a lapse of more than 25 years.

The expansion of aviation arrangements will facilitate the movement of people and goods and will provide new business opportunities for the aviation industries of both countries to the benefit of their peoples. Further, it would enable Sri Lankan and Korean companies to expand their business/investments while boosting Korean tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan delegation also invited designated carriers of Korea to commence flights to the Mattala International Airport where special incentives and concessions would be available for start-up carriers.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Dr. Ravindra Ruberu, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.