Austrian Airlines launches flights to Sri Lanka
The inaugural flight Boeing 767 of Austrian Airlines, the flagship
carrier of Austria touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport on
October 28, 2015. After a lapse of almost eight years, the airline will
now offer direct flights from Vienna to Colombo on weekly basis.
Austrian Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance is part of the
Lufthansa group and operates a global route network of around 130
destinations. Austria is in the centre of Europe, with Italy and
Slovenia to its south and Germany and the Czech Republic to its north.
Given the ideal geographical location in the heart of Europe, direct air
connectivity from Vienna to Sri Lanka is expected have a positive impact
on the tourism industry of Sri Lanka.
Sir Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau officials including Director,
Marketing, Ms. Madubani Perera and Marketing Officer to Austria and
Sweden, Jagath Perera welcomed the Austrian Airlines crew of the
inaugural flight at the BIA.
As per the exit survey conducted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development
Authority in 2014, main activities undertaken by Austrian tourists to
Sri Lanka are sea bathing, visit to historical sites and wildlife. Sri
Lankan has seen year-on-year (YOY) improvement in tourist arrivals to
the island. In the nine months to September 2015 tourist arrivals from
Austria increased by 9% and arrivals from Western Europe to Sri Lanka
increased by 16% over the corresponding period last year.
Entry of new airlines to island highlights the confidence placed by
the international community on Sri Lanka and weekly flights from Vienna
to Colombo gives greater opportunity for the tourism industry of Sri
Lanka to further grow the European market. |