MOSCOW, August 5 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia and Sri Lanka will open a direct air route, a source at the Russian Transport Ministry told Itar-Tass on Friday.
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin told the Sri Lankan colleague that Russia had completed interdepartmental coordination of the agreement and was expecting Sri Lanka to do the same.
“Current agreements between the two aviation authorities make it possible to start regular flights between Moscow and Colombo,” the source said. “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines have the right to two regular flights per week on the Colombo – Dubai – Moscow route.”
The Sri Lankan minister said that Sri Lankan Airlines had scheduled the first flight to Moscow for September 17. It is unknown when Aeroflot may start selling tickets to Colombo.
At present, only charter flights are available in December and January, the source said. More than 3,000 passengers went to and from Sri Lanka last year and 215 this year.