International flights at Jaffna International Airport are scheduled to resume on July 1, with plans to attract new commercial airlines operating into new destinations beyond India.
Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva last Friday, during an inspection tour to Jaffna International Airport, instructed Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Ltd (AASL) and international airline officials to take measures to restart the international flights from July 1.
The Palaly airport was reopened as Jaffna International Airport in 2019, following the completion of the redevelopment project, with the support of India. Initially, India’s Alliance Air conducted three weekly flights from Chennai to Palaly in the year. However, it came to an abrupt halt by the end of the year.
De Silva stressed that the airport requires to be modernised and upgraded to position itself as an international airport and to lure airlines flying into new destinations beyond India.
As the present runway can only accommodate 75-seater flights, instructions were given to the airport officials to commence groundwork on expanding the runway with Indian assistance. Further, he also advised them to establish a duty free centre within the airport premises.
With the development of Jaffna International Airport and the Kankesanthurai port, de Silva extended an open invitation to the Tamil diaspora to return to the Jaffna peninsula and invest in emerging business opportunities.
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