Air China, one of China’s largest airlines, will begin daily flights to Sri Lanka in October 2024, marking a significant boost in air connectivity between the two nations. The announcement was made by former Tourism Minister Harin Fernando on X (formerly Twitter).
This expansion follows Air China’s resumption of flights to Sri Lanka in July 2024, after a brief hiatus, with three weekly flights from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport. The inaugural flight on July 3, 2024, carried 142 passengers, symbolizing the airline’s return to Sri Lanka.
The daily flights are expected to enhance tourism and trade links between China and Sri Lanka, with China emerging as one of the island’s key tourist markets. According to provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, 92,566 tourists from China visited Sri Lanka between January 1 and September 17, 2024, making China the fifth largest tourist source for the country.
As a member of the Star Alliance and one of China’s “Big Three” airlines, Air China operates an extensive domestic and international network, primarily from Beijing Capital International Airport.