Union Minister Scindia Announces Daily Chennai-Jaffna Flights from July 16

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that starting from July 16, flights between Chennai and Sri Lanka’s Jaffna will be available on a daily basis, increasing the frequency from four times a week. This development not only enhances connectivity but also boosts trade and commerce. Scindia conveyed this information through a pre-recorded video message on the second day of the 67th annual convention of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), which is currently taking place in Colombo.

The Indian Travel Congress, attended by more than 500 experts in tourism, aviation, travel, and tour operations, is being held in Colombo. This gathering in the island nation serves as a platform to emphasize the longstanding cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation- Jyotiraditya Scindia

According to Scindia, our partnership with Sri Lanka presents a unique opportunity to implement various reforms that will effectively address the immediate challenges faced by the aviation sector. By doing so, we can position ourselves as a significant influencer in the global aviation ecosystem.

In 1968, India and Sri Lanka established the first air service agreement, as highlighted by Scindia. This agreement granted Indian carriers the freedom to operate flights from any location within India to any destination in Sri Lanka, thereby significantly improving connectivity, particularly with the Global South.

The minister added that currently, there are 16 operational flights connecting various regions of India to Colombo.

During this occasion, Scindia expressed his delight in announcing that due to the growing demand and the route’s potential to boost trade and commerce, the frequency of flights will be increased. Starting from July 16, the flights will operate daily instead of four times a week.

“Furthermore, we have successfully facilitated the movement of cargo, thanks to the collaborative efforts of both governments. As a result, we are now proud to offer direct flights from Chennai to Jaffna,” he emphasized.

After a hiatus of three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India and Sri Lanka reinstated flight services between Chennai and Jaffna in December 2022.

In October 2019, the airport in Palaly was designated as Sri Lanka’s third international airport and rebranded as the Jaffna International Airport. Its inaugural flight took off from Chennai.

Sri Lanka heavily relies on the tourism sector as a crucial contributor to its foreign exchange earnings. However, the devastating impact of the pandemic in 2020 brought the tourism industry to its knees, exacerbating Sri Lanka’s economic challenges.

Key Miletones for the Aviation Sector of India

Scindia emphasized the importance of engaging in discussions to identify key milestones for the aviation sectors of both nations in the next decade. He urged all stakeholders to unite and work together to propel the industry toward unprecedented success and growth.

On the second day of the event, prominent industry experts from aviation companies, associations, as well as hospitality and tour operating firms actively participated in panel discussions. These insightful discussions were followed by productive business-to-business sessions.

Scindia highlighted that Buddhism continues to serve as a significant bridge between the two nations and civilizations. He acknowledged the recent years’ remarkable progress in the bilateral relationship, encompassing increased trade and investment, collaboration in areas such as development, education, culture, tourism, and aviation, along with broader international concerns.

“Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, embarked on his first official foreign visit after assuming office for the second time as Prime Minister. Sri Lanka was the destination of this significant visit, marking the Prime Minister as the first foreign leader to visit the country following the tragic Easter bombings in 2019. These bombings claimed the lives of 270 people, including 11 Indians,” stated Scindia.

Highlighting the historical and cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka, Scindia emphasized the strong bonds forged through intellectual, cultural, religious, and linguistic connections. He acknowledged the unwavering support extended by both nations to each other during times of joy as well as times of crisis. Scindia expressed his satisfaction in discovering that this convention is exploring innovative and forward-looking avenues in travel, aiming to transcend borders and positively impact lives.

Prior to 2014

Scindia conveyed a significant transformation in India’s aviation sector, stating, “Prior to 2014, India’s aviation sector was stagnant, but over the past nine years, it has finally taken off.” He further asserted that a stable and competitive aviation sector is now imminent. He emphasized that this is an opportune moment to introduce fresh perspectives to the industry, considering the unprecedented changes occurring in the Indian civil aviation sector.

Over the past nine years, India has witnessed significant progress and growth, with the number of airports doubling from 74 in 2014 to 148 today. From March to June 2023, there has been a notable increase of almost 4 percent in the average number of international daily flights from India, rising from 1,002 to 1,042,” stated Scindia.

Furthermore, during the same period, international passenger numbers have grown by 5.3 percent, with approximately 180,000 passengers boarding international flights from India every day,” he pointed out.

Scindia emphasized that alongside these advancements, efforts are being made to enhance the quality of service, improve infrastructure, establish better last-mile connectivity, and consequently promote increased cross-border tourism.

Next Pivotal Phase of the Aviation Industry

Scindia emphasized that we are already making significant strides in shaping the next pivotal phase of the industry by leveraging three key facilitators. These include an extensive network of routes, the integration of helicopters for efficient last-mile connectivity, and a steadfast focus on pioneering technologies. As an example, he highlighted the adoption of drone technology for the delivery of essential medicines and pesticides throughout India.

To address challenges related to helicopters, we have established a dedicated helicopter accelerator cell. Additionally, we have successfully launched Helisewa, an online portal utilized by all operators to obtain landing permissions for helipads. Furthermore, we have disseminated Helidisha, an informative resource on helicopter operations, to state administrations, reaching over 700 districts across the nation.

Scindia also revealed that the implementation of facial recognition technology, known as Digiyatra, is presently active in seven airports across India. Moreover, there are plans underway to activate this technology in an additional seven airports within the next few months.

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