SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld alliance, resumed operations to picturesque Gan Island in Addu Atoll of Maldives from yesterday, 4th December 2021. SriLankan will operate weekly, with flight UL119 departing at 10:40AM every Saturday from Colombo to Gan, which would return from Gan at 13:05PM on the same day.
Gan offers a distinct, off the beaten path experience to visitors. The island not only has pristine White sand beaches, which Maldives is famous for, but lush greenery and opportunities to experience the local culture and its people. Travelers can enjoy day excursions to Addu Nature Park to see Maldivian wildlife or smaller, neighboring islands in addition to fishing trips; dolphin cruises; diving; snorkeling; surfing; canoeing; jet skiing; and paddle boarding. Tourists seeking a more luxurious getaway can easily transfer to nearby Gaafu atoll that has ten branded luxury properties.
In December 2016, SriLankan became the first and only international carrier to operate direct flights to Gan allowing travelers to fly direct to the Island and save on time and money otherwise spent if travelling via Male. Male and Gan have been two of the most preferred holiday destinations in SriLankan’s network for luxury holiday travelers from Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. The Airline was compelled to cease operations to Gan temporarily in March 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but will reclaim its title as the only international carrier to fly direct to Gan with the resumption of flights this December.
Reflecting on the significance of the airline to the country, Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines stated, “For the past four decades, we have been flag bearers of the nation through thick and thin. SriLankan Airlines has not only prevailed through each challenging chapter that the country has had to navigate through, but endeavored to help the country back on its feet. From sustaining travel and trade links between Sri Lanka and the world as other airlines cut back on flights to Sri Lanka due to the country’s ongoing economic crisis to bringing down stranded Sri Lankans home during the thick of the pandemic in the recent past, SriLankan has always been a pillar of strength to the nation. The resilience of our legacy is really the resilience of our people, and I would like to thank every employee of SriLankan Airlines for their show of dedication and commitment that has seen us through difficult times.”
Travellers from London; Frankfurt; Paris; Doha; Dubai; and Dammam who choose to book with SriLankan to travel to Gan will benefit from a direct and hassle-free journey owing to convenient connections via Colombo.
“Compared with the same period last year, SriLankan Airlines has been gradually expanding operations by introducing new destinations, increasing flight frequencies to existing destinations and restarting flights to destinations such as Gan. Maldives has always been a premier leisure travel destination, and SriLankan will be the only international carrier to operate scheduled flights to two points in Maldives. We were also the only international carrier to continue operations to Male without any disruptions even during the pandemic,” said SriLankan Airlines Head of World Wide Sales and Distribution Dimuthu Tennakoon.
SriLankan Airlines became the first carrier in the South Asian region to receive the ‘Diamond’ rating from the Airline Passengers Experience Association (APEX) and SimpliFlying, a standard received for the extra safety measures and comprehensive hygiene precautions adhered to since the onset of the global pandemic. SriLankan Airlines is an award-winning airline with a firm reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, reliability, and punctuality.
Passengers intending to travel with SriLankan Airlines could book their tickets from the Airline’s ticket offices in Colombo, Galle, and Kandy or through their preferred travel agent. For more information kindly contact SriLankan Airlines Global Contact Centre on +94117771979 or visit www.srilankan.com.
