News
No Moscow-Colombo direct flights from tomorrow; SL embassy seeks talks with Russian govt. agencies
View(s):Direct flights from Moscow to Colombo will temporarily stop operating tomorrow (19) due to a fall in demand for Sri Lanka as a destination during the summer.
The Sri Lankan embassy in Moscow has requested meetings with Russian government agencies over the cessation of flights to Sri Lanka between May and September this year.
“The Embassy has written to Russia’s national carrier, Aeroflot, the Ministry of Transport and the Federal Agency for Air Transport requesting meetings,” said Shobini Gunasekera, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia. The Sri Lankan embassy in Moscow was notified of the planned suspension of direct flights from Moscow to Colombo and instructed to work on the issue.
Russian airlines—Aeroflot, Red Wing and Azur Air—operate 14 flights per week during the winter season. However, they cut down frequencies annually during their summer season because Sri Lanka is popular in Russia predominantly as a beach destination. Last year, from May to September, they slashed flights down to two, but this year, a decision has been taken to stop even those two.
“The Embassy is working with the Russian authorities to try and retain the two frequencies that operated during summer last year,” she told the Sunday Times.
Sri Lanka has largely been promoted in Russia as a winter destination, with a heavy focus on beaches. More has to be done to show the country as a year-round destination, publicising such events as the Esala Perahera and experiences like tea gardens, Ms. Gunasekera, who took over in February this year, said.
The Sunday Times compared tourism statistics in the Maldives—a beach-focused destination—during the May to September period. According to the country’s Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives recorded 84,656 tourist arrivals from Russia during summer in 2024.
Sri Lanka had 37,753 tourist arrivals from Russia between May and September 2023 and 20,924 arrivals between May and September 2024. Russian tourist arrivals were in Sri Lanka’s top three markets so far this year, with a total of 104,441 arrivals.
“We did not receive enough bookings to Sri Lanka to justify a charter, so we decided to suspend the flights until winter because of the costs involved,” official sources confirmed. They assured that there was “absolutely no other reason” for the suspension of flights.
Sources claimed that summer tourists from Russia were being diverted to destinations like Turkey, Vietnam, and Thailand.
“Aeroflot is operating flights until today (18) and will restart again on October 5 when the winter schedule activates,” confirmed Civil Aviation Director General Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya, who added that the schedule between October 5 and October 22 was also released.
Previously, Deputy Tourism Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe had expressed plans to extend airport charge waivers for Russian charters in Mattala until the end of the year. However, the Sunday Times reached out to him and multiple other Ministry officials for confirmation and updates, but did not receive a response.
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