January 19, 2024
WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-06-at-15.42.56-LBN.jpeg

4min

19th January 2024: Brace yourselves for a new era of travel in ways never imagined. Classic Destinations, the inbound chapter of Classic Travel and a fully-fledged company within the Expolanka Holdings PLC portfolio, proudly announces a strategic alliance with SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines and the brand recognised as the Best Outbound Tour Operator at the Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism. This collaboration aims to elevate the travel experience to unparalleled heights, blending years of expertise and renewed passion to create expeditions that resonate with the modern traveller.

 



 

With global recognition and valued standing in the world of tourism, Classic Destinations offers complete solutions for inbound tours, conferences, events, themed weddings, and accommodations and boasts a diverse network spanning 20 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the USA. Through this partnership, travellers can explore unique bespoke excursions, focusing on the richness of cultural and experiential products, enveloped in an exceptional level of personal service. These offerings encompass tailor-made holidays, cultural experiences, gastronomic delights, and specialised golf tours, offering a comprehensive service under one umbrella.

Furthermore, Classic Destinations’ wildlife-focused brand, Classic Wild, offers unique wildlife and birding tour packages for those seeking nature-centric adventures. Consisting of an experienced team with a fierce passion for exploration, the brand showcases the wonders of the Sri Lankan wilderness to the world by continuously exploring and developing new locations and experiences for its clientele.

We at Classic Destinations are excited to partner with an esteemed establishment such as Sri Lankan Holidays, where we can showcase our amazing product portfolio of authentic immersive cultural experiences, off the beaten track locations and sites, and of course our worldclass wildlife safaris in order to bring forth the best of what Sri Lanka as an island destination has to offer. Rajiv Welikala, Snr.Manager, Classic Destinations.

Meanwhile, SriLankan Holidays also shared their enthusiasm,

“We, at SriLankan Holidays, are immensely pleased to partner Classic Destinations to provide carefully crafted, authentic destination experiences to our global customers. As an entity that has been proudly presenting the country’s experience catalogue to its worldwide network, we are confident that partnerships with dedicated, like-minded entities such as Classic Destinations will further amplify our offering. As the National Carrier’s leisure arm, we champion the rich and vibrant wildlife of Sri Lanka which has held the world in awe, and this partnership is guaranteed to pave the way for many memorable holiday experiences.“ Manager SriLankan Holidays, Ms. Virazmi Aher.

Travelers can look forward to curated journeys that immerse them in the rich tapestry of Sri Lanka’s culture, landscapes, bio-diversity and the ocean.

 


June 9, 2023
SLT-MOBITEL-Enterprise-Logo-LBN.jpg

3min

 



 

 

SLT-MOBITEL Enterprise, the National ICT Solutions Provider, dedicated in their service to delivering best-in-class technology for the enterprise segment has signed a bilateral agreement with SriLankan Airlines with the support of Millennium IT ESP. The Managed Services Excellence event was held recently at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo.

Under this agreement, SLT-MOBITEL Enterprise will manage Service Solutions for SriLankan Airlines including Data Networking Services, Enterprise Business Internet Services, Wi-Fi  Services including equipment and infrastructure, and Voice solutions.

“SLT-MOBITEL is proud to partner with SriLankan Airlines in delivering the best possible communication solutions. This partnership builds upon the strong history of collaboration between our two companies and demonstrates our shared commitment to serving Sri Lanka.  By leveraging SLT-MOBITEL’s enterprise-grade services and solutions and Millennium IT ESP’s expertise, SriLankan Airlines will be able to operate more efficiently and better serve our  country and its citizens,” said Janaka R. Abeysinghe, CEO of SLT.

Commenting on the partnership, Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer SriLankan Airlines stated, “We are happy to see our partnership with SLT-MOBITEL go from strength to strength.  Over the years, SLT-MOBITEL has been a reliable and superior provider of enterprise network connectivity services, supporting the multiple communication flows that bring to life the daily  operations of the airline. We are certain that SLT-MOBITEL will meet and exceed our expectations as we continue to work with them.”

SriLankan Airlines and SLT-MOBITEL have enjoyed a mutually beneficial history of working together since the year 2013, when the Airlines became the first Managed Service customer  of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. Building on this relationship, it is expected that this development  will open up new avenues of business for both parties in the future. It is noteworthy that SriLankan Airlines is also among the top corporate customers of SLT-MOBITEL.

SLT-MOBITEL Enterprise offers a range of enterprise-grade services and solutions to support the growing needs of SriLankan Airlines customers. These solutions are backed by the best support and fastest and widest fixed and mobile network, enabling businesses to tap into new  opportunities and helping them thrive.

 



 

 


April 19, 2023
Samahan-LBN.jpg

4min

 



 

 

Link Natural, a subsidiary of the CIC Group, has partnered SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, to introduce Link Samahan, a trusted herbal drink, as an onboard beverage choice.

Link Natural is a leading manufacturer and marketer of herbal healthcare and herbal personal care products in addition to ayurveda pharmaceuticals. Its flagship brand, Link Samahan, is a 100% natural authentic herbal drink formulated with 14 trusted ayurvedic herbal ingredients that have been used traditionally over centuries to enhance the health & well-being and supports immunity when consumed regularly. Moreover, it can be conveniently consumed in hot water, tea or coffee depending on the consumer’s preference.

Link Samahan will be served onboard SriLankan Airlines’ medium and long-haul flights.  Passengers can now enjoy a cup of the healthy herbal drink, which promotes wellness and health.

The company prides itself on the state-of-the-art modern Research and Development Centre providing the core of research, product formulation and development ensuring stringent quality and regulatory standards. The facility is also US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) audit compliant maintaining high standards for Good Manufacturing Practices which supports the brand reaching global markets.

Today, Link Samahan is available in over 30 countries and has won the confidence of consumers across the globe. Product has been recently endorsed by world-renowned British supermodel Naomi Campbell in her interview with Vogue India.

As milestones in its growing international journey, Link Samahan has gained approval to be marketed at Costco Wholesale stores in Japan, Lulu supermarkets in the Middle East and Amazon.com in the USA. In addition, locally discerning consumers have access to Link Natural’s wide product range and wellness mantra through its recently launched exclusive experiential center “Swastha by Link Natural” located at No. 6, Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7.

Link Natural, for many years is home to internationally trusted and time-tested products such as Samahan, Sudantha, Swastha Amurtha, Swastha Triphala, Musclegard, SP Balm, Kesha etc., that have provided consumers with holistic wellness for generations. Earth Essence, consisting of a complete range of herbal personal care products, is the company’s latest introduction to the retail market.

Chathurangi Perera, Manager- International Business, Link Natural Products stated, “Link Samahan offers customers a novel in-flight experience – a herbal drink which is highly appreciated for its health benefits enabling passengers to remain hydrated, healthy and comfortable. It is a matter of pride for our company and for Sri Lanka that we are showcasing a celebrated Sri Lankan brand to a global audience.”

 



 

 


March 14, 2023
Image-I-LBN-1.jpg

5min

 



 

 

Colombo, Tuesday 14th March 2023: International Women’s Day 2023 calls on all stakeholders to #EmbraceEquity focusing on the fact that all women should be recognized and celebrated for their diversity and uniqueness. In keeping with the theme, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Colombo sector and SriLankan Airlines embarked on a unique project to share knowledge while also recognizing and developing the skills of its female associates.

During Phase 1 of the multi-phased project, three female chefs from Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, and Cinnamon Red Colombo, and three female chefs from SriLankan Catering, a fully owned subsidiary of SriLankan Airlines, were selected to swap places at their respective entities for a period of two days. The ladies were taken through a walk-through of the processes of food preparation for the aviation industry, and at hotel buffets respectively. On day two they were a part of food prep and creating dishes together with the culinary teams. On International Women’s Day the dishes prepared by the Cinnamon team were served onboard Business Class on SriLankan Airlines’ flight UL 503, which departed to London.   Similarly, dishes prepared by the SriLankan chefs were featured on buffets at the three Colombo properties.

Speaking on the project Area Vice President Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Kamal Munasinghe noted, “We are privileged to be joining hands with Sri Lanka’s national carrier to celebrate the diversity and strength of our female associates this International Women’s Day. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is commemorating International Women’s Day under the theme #PurpleistheNewPink where we are focusing on looking at the role of women in hospitality in a new light. The diversity that women bring to any organization should not be just celebrated on one day, which is why this project will be an ongoing one where we incorporate different functions that are common to both entities. In future, we will have female, and even male associates from different functions swap roles and learn from each other for the furtherment of the entire hospitality industry”.

Also commenting on the project, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Catering Mangala Wijesekera said, “We are excited to partner with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts to empower women in travel and tourism. Our collaboration will provide employees of both organizations the unique opportunity to trade places with their counterparts and gain a broader insight into the hospitality trade. As an equal opportunity employer, SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering value the women in its workforce and endeavour to create an environment of opportunity and fairness. We have women contributing to all areas of SriLankan Catering and the airline today including in jobs typically held by men such as chefs and aircraft pilots and engineers. I hope that this project will pave the way for greater professional growth for the participating female staff members and future inter-company collaborations committed to the shared goal of women’s empowerment.”

The second phase of the project will involve female operations associates at the Colombo hotels who will swap roles with ground handling staff at SriLankan Airlines for a period of two days, while phase three involves a swap between front office staff and in-flight crew.

 



 

 


January 30, 2023
a200e28d-7f30-4ea5-abfb-7ee9860cb855-LBN.jpg

6min

 



 

 

The Sri Lankan Convention Bureau (SLCB) and SriLankan Airlines (SLA), together in partnership, under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism and Lands, recently announced the official launch of “MICE – EXPO 2023” at a special press conference. The event, which is a MICE tradeshow for promoting Sri Lanka as the perfect destination for Meetings, Incentive Travels , Conferences, and  Exhibitions/Business Events  (MICE), is set to take place from the 13th to the 15th of March 2023, at the Shangri La Colombo. Minister of Tourism and Lands,  Hon. Harin Fernando MP, Chairman of the SLCB, Thisum Jayasuriya and General Manager of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Krishantha Fernando, all addressed the media at the press conference and discussed how and why Sri Lanka is the perfect MICE destination, and why there is a crucial need to promote and position the country well to a global audience.

MICE – EXPO 2023 will host over 100 participants from South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe, attracting some of the largest travel agencies and groups in the industry. Majority of the buyers are confirmed from  India , one of the leading  MICE outbound market, where Sri Lankan Airlines operates more than 75 flights per week. Most of the hosted buyers will be flown by the National Carrier, Sri Lankan Airline. The Expo aims to promote Sri Lanka as Business event destination, in an effort to grow tourism revenues and increase foreign currency inflows into Sri Lanka, by leveraging the high-quality MICE traveller segment who, on average, spend up to 3 times more than leisure and other tourist segments.

Commenting on this milestone initiative, Mr. Harin Fernando, Hon Minister  f Tourism & Lands  aid, “We are thrilled to launch MICE – EXPO 2023, and we are confident that it will be a resounding success and an ongoing platform to create international awareness about Sri Lanka’s potential. In addition to promoting Sri Lanka as Business event destination, MICE – EXPO 2023 also aims to provide a platform for local partners as sponsor exhibitors, and we invite all interested parties to sign up with us. With the expected footfall and diverse crowd anticipated at the event, this will be a huge opportunity for local service providers to gain global exposure, and attract new customers. We also believe that this collaborative effort will help to increase Sri Lanka’s external earnings and ease the pressure on our foreign reserves, particularly as a result of the major global travel agencies expected to attend.”

The organizers also intend to use MICE – EXPO 2023 as a platform to create awareness, in general, about the value that Sri Lanka has to offer the world, for MICE, tourism, investment and other purposes. Sri Lanka is a destination that offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, culture, and history, making it an ideal location for events and conferences, leisure and growth investments. The island is home to world-class infrastructure and facilities, including state-of-the-art convention centres, hotels, and resorts, with much planned for the future, including mega developments such as Port City Colombo, which will be a global MICE, financial services, commercial, entertainment, leisure and investment hub for the entire South Asian Region.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase, not just Sri Lanka, but also an excellent example of what partnerships and synergies can create,” added Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman, SLCB “Working together, united by the goal of building brand Sri Lanka in the global marketplace, we look forward to welcoming MICE Travellers from around the world to experience the authentic & diverse product that country could offer.

SLCB also announced their future plans for MICE – EXPO at the press conference, which include taking the event regional around Sri Lanka, specifically to Jaffna, and making it an annual event, to create further ongoing positive impacts for the country. For more information, including to book stalls and sponsorships, please contact General Manager, SLCB gmslcb@srilanka.travel

 



 

 


November 4, 2022
Sri-Lankan-LBN.jpe

8min

 



 

 

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Richard Nuttall said that it is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

“There has never been a better time to visit (the country) as  the hotels have low occupancy and the Sri Lankan currency is devalued. The government, SriLankan Airlines and all participants in the tourism industry are aligned and doing everything possible to support the return of tourism in the coming months,” he said, in an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman.

He also welcomed the government’s plans to privatise the airline. “I believe that it will offer greater opportunities for the organisation in terms of a much-needed capital infusion and the streamlining of decision-making,” he said.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: I have heard that SriLankan Airlines made a profit this year. Is this true? How come this was possible?

A: SriLankan Airlines was profitable for the last four months of the year ending March 2021. We were also operationally profitable for the first six months of the current financial year starting April. However, given the high interest rates in Sri Lanka and the extra costs of operating for two months without jet fuel in our home base, we could not quite cover financing costs. These results are based on unaudited management accounts which are USD based. We went to great lengths to contain costs by restructuring aircraft leases, supplier contracts and other operating expenses during the pandemic. Consequently, we now have a relatively efficient cost base. Further, as traffic has restarted since the pandemic, we have been very agile in adjusting the network based on passenger demand and by distributing any spare capacity based on route profitability.

Q: What new routes are you planning?

A: Our priority right now is to restore capacity to match pre-COVID-19 levels in markets where we have a competitive edge. In the last year or so, we have restarted Paris and Frankfurt, and we launched Incheon and Sydney. We are always on the lookout for new market opportunities as the demand for commercial air travel steadily grows. However, our current priority is to increase frequencies on our current network which includes a number of countries where traffic levels are still recovering after COVID-19.

Q: Any plans to increase flights from Muscat? What is the load factor on this route?

A: We will most likely maintain the same flight frequency to Muscat through the winter of 2022 and into 2023. SriLankan’s passenger load factor on the Muscat route is just over 70 per cent this financial year, and we will not hesitate to increase capacity if the demand for the route increases.

Q: How are you handling the fuel shortage situation?

A: We faced some challenges as jet fuel was largely unavailable in Sri Lanka during July and August. However, the airline’s operational departments and suppliers came together and we were able to maintain most of our network by fuel tankering and tech stops to pick up fuel. Thus, maintaining Sri Lanka’s air links during the summer peak was an extraordinary achievement. Unfortunately, this came at a considerable cost at a time when we need funds to maintain and grow our fleet to meet the needs of the Sri Lankan economy. The good news is that the situation has eased since then, and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has assured us a steady supply of jet fuel. We are now able to operate our long-haul flights without any technical stops for refuelling.

Q: What are your thoughts on privatisation of SriLankan Airlines?

A: We welcome the Government’s plans to privatise the airline and believe that it will offer greater opportunities for the organisation in terms of a much-needed capital infusion and the streamlining of decision-making.

Q: How did the economic crisis hit SriLankan Airlines this year? And how is it planning to come out of it?

A: Sri Lanka is undergoing a severe financial crisis at the moment, but its impact on SriLankan Airlines has been minimal since the airline generates a vast majority of its sales in foreign currency from overseas territories. As the national airline, SriLankan is duty-bound to support Sri Lanka in this hour of need and we help by facilitating tourism and exports.

Q: Is the island of serendipity ready to welcome tourists despite what is happening inside Sri Lanka?

A: We believe that the country’s situation was overplayed in foreign media. There was a period for a few weeks when fuel shortages created uncertainty for travel, but otherwise the country has been completely safe for tourism. Now, whilst hotels still have low occupancy and the Sri Lankan currency has devalued, there has never been a better time to visit it. The Government, SriLankan Airlines and all participants in the Tourism industry are aligned and doing everything possible to support the return of tourism in the coming months.

Q: Did the airline restore all its pre- COVID routes?

A: We have resumed flights to almost all the destinations that we flew to pre-pandemic, and will be able to restore our capacity to 90 per cent of our pre-COVID-19 capacity levels in the next financial year.

Q: Flights to Indian cities are very important for Muscat-based passengers. Any plans to increase connectivity with Indian cities?

A: India is a key market for us with regard to inbound tourism to Sri Lanka and transit traffic via Colombo. We are planning to increase capacity to India as a priority in line with the growth in demand. Current demand is well below pre-pandemic levels, but we expect this to rebound in the coming months, with a considerable growth in the number of flights.

Q: Are you going ahead with new fleet procurement?

A: SriLankan Airlines needs to replace some of the older aircraft in its fleet that have imminent lease expirations. We are currently in discussions with our main stakeholder, the Government of Sri Lanka, which understands the need to agree on plans in this regard.

 

Source : Times of Oman

 



 

 


November 1, 2022
SriLankan-Airlines-Image-LBN.jpg

3min

 



 

SriLankan Airlines has been appointed as the Official Airline Partner and Platinum Sponsor of the National ICT Awards – NBQSA 2022. The 24th NBQSA Awards ceremony will take place on 4th November 2022 and aims to recognize the best ICT innovations from individuals and groups within the ICT industry.

Mr. Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution of SriLankan Airlines stated “We are indeed happy for being roped into this prestigious awards event as the Official Airline Partner and Platinum Sponsor. Focusing on developing the ICT sector through these awards is an investment for the future, as the ICT sector has got potential to revive the country’s economy.”

Mr. Sanharsha Jayatissa, Chairman, National ICT Awards – NBQSA 2022 said “We are proud to have SriLankan Airlines, the national airline of Sri Lanka, teamed up with us for this year’s awards event. Their addition further strengthens NBQSA 2022, and we are looking forward to collaborating with them to make the event a success.”

Mr. Vajeendra S Kandegamage, Chairman of BCS Sri Lanka Section stated, ‘’We are highly excited about SriLankan Airlines choosing the National ICT awards NBQSA to continue their efforts to support the ICT sector. SriLankan Airlines has been playing a vital role in uplifting the education and empowerment of the country’s youth through various sponsorships and partnerships. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to support the ICT sector’s growth at a critical time for the country.”

As Sri Lanka’s foremost Chartered IT Professional body, BCS strives to facilitate improvements in the quality and standards of products and services in the ICT industry in the nation. Upon recognizing the best products and services, BCS facilitates business matching and investment promotions to help developers, companies and the ICT industry to grow to unprecedented levels. The ultimate aim of this facilitation is to raise the Sri Lankan ICT industry to be on par with international standards.

 



 

 

 

 


October 27, 2022
Image-DE_SLA.png

5min

 



 

 

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently entered into a partnership agreement with SriLankan Airlines Cargo to provide cold room monitoring solutions (CRMS) in the cold storage facilities in airport premises at Katunayake and Mattala. Marked as one of the key projects trail blazed by Dialog Enterprise in the domain of Internet of Things technology in Sri Lanka, this installation will result in increased process efficiencies and significant cost savings over time.

A state-of-the-art IoT solution, this automated temperature-monitoring system is a vast improvement on the manually-operated approach it replaces, and it significantly reduces the spoilage and damage incurred with legacy cold chain supply operations. The technology continuously tracks and records temperatures 24/7, and sends alerts on temperature fluctuations via multiple channels, including SMS, email and web.

“The airline industry is fiercely competitive, and carriers operate on razor-thin margins, therefore when it comes to cold storage, the difference of one degree can mean the difference between obtaining a profit or loss,” said Chaminda Perera, General Manager Cargo for SriLankan Airlines Limited.

“This is especially true for perishables such as food, fresh produce and medicines. As the sole ground handler for all operating airlines into Sri Lanka that carry significant amounts of perishable cargo including medicine and organic produce, there is a substantial risk of spoilage occurring if the temperature of the storage unit fluctuates for even a few degrees. With rising costs of energy, keeping the temperature at an optimum level will have a favorable impact towards the bottom line of not only the airline operations but also the other key stakeholders in the entire supply chain process for perishable items. This system will ensure that the right temperature is consistently maintained over time,” Udeni Perera,  Senior Manager Worldwide Cargo Operations for SriLankan Airlines Limited further added.

Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer – Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC was upbeat: “The ideal temperature for preserving fresh vegetables is not the same as the one for refrigerating milk. There are cost savings to be gained in those different degrees of coldness, and with IoT technology you benefit from that. And that’s just one example of the way the Internet of Things will streamline the future operations of SriLankan Airlines. We are proud to assist our national carrier as it embarks on the path of cutting-edge innovation. Meanwhile, we have a number of other IoT solutions that offer cost-saving opportunities for major players in any industry to become more efficient and more profitable. Dialog Enterprise has IoT Solutions to match the needs of all Sri Lankan businesses, thanks to our customisable, cloud-hosted IoT platform.”

SriLankan Airlines engineering staff can fine-tune the CRMS as desired, setting up the ideal storage conditions based on the storage items. Additionally, the system stores and provides access to historical data to aid airline management in further analysis, planning and decision-making. Sri Lankan airlines, in collaboration with Dialog Enterprise CTMS has taken a step towards upholding quality and industry standards when it comes to serving passengers all over the world.

To find out more or to sign up for this solution, contact a Dialog Tech Expert on 077 333 0788

 



 

 

 


September 28, 2021
Doha-Qatar.jpg

2min

 




 

 

Colombo, September 27. 2021: SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka, and a member of the oneworld alliance celebrated its 42nd anniversary by planting 42 trees across some of the airline’s destinations international airport premises worldwide including airports in Sri Lanka, and its office premises in Katunayake and Colombo.

The first batch of the trees that were planted in celebration of the Airlines’ anniversary can be seen on the Airlines corporate social media channels through the link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1460287457652806 and the initiative will continue throughout the anniversary month.

Congratulating SriLankan Airlines’ novel initiative in a message, oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said, “You are about to embark on a wonderful initiative, which is planting 42 trees, representing each year of operation for SriLankan. It is a very important symbolic statement for your commitment for sustainability.”

Under the prevailing circumstances, where celebrations are kept low key, in the absence of opportunity to gather and share the joy, the Airline has not only decided to opt for this meaningful and mindful manner of celebrating the anniversary, whilst sharing the joy and anticipation for better days ahead, with its social media followers across the globe.

 

 

 



 

 

 


September 28, 2021
SriLankan-Airlines-is-World’s-Most-Punctual-Airline-once-again.jpg

6min

 



 

 

 

September 26 2021, Colombo: SriLankan Airlines is among the airlines leading the way in the South Asian region by trialing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass commencing 01st October 2021 with selected sectors. This marks another initiative of SriLankan Airlines to create a touchless passenger journey in keeping with the airline’s vision ‘To be Asia’s most customer-centric airline’.

The Digital verification process of IATA Travel Pass will add convenience for the passengers with an improved seamless customer experience. Passengers can create a digital ID of their profile comprising of their photo, passport information, and flight details. This innovative solution provides passengers with a safe and contactless journey, thereby offering customers a seamless travel experience on SriLankan Airlines. IATA Travel Pass app is available on Apple’s iOS and Android operating systems for download.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage stated, “SriLankan Airlines is proud to be one of the airlines leading the way in the region by adopting timely innovative platforms such as IATA Travel Pass to provide passengers with a seamless travel experience. Passengers can utilize the user-friendly app with data security for a hassle-free travel experience in their journey and airport experience.”

The IATA Travel Pass is available for passengers on flights on selected sectors offering reassurance of a one-stop platform for managing Covid-19 travel documentation. Passengers can identify the participating laboratories in relevant countries for taking their pre-departure COVID-19 test. Thereafter, register at the laboratory using the digital ID and flight information in the app. They will be able to view their test results, as well as confirmation status to fly, directly on the app. The “Timatic” registry designated by IATA will provide the back-end information on the Covid-19 tests and entry requirements.

In addition, passengers will need to show their confirmed test status in the app to the check-in staff when departing. In keeping with the current regulatory requirements, passengers would have to carry a physical copy of the certificate as proof. The IATA Travel Pass app includes the functionality to upload vaccination certificates from some countries that can enable the airline to auto check-in passengers based on their status and destination requirements.

Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines Vipula Gunatilleka said, “As passengers begin their plans to return to their preferred travel destinations, they will be faced with the challenge of accessing regulatory requirements. By participating in the IATA Travel Pass initiative, we aim to restore confidence among travellers. We will keep adding more routes to the list to make it more convenient to our passengers and allow them to make use of the perks that come with the app.”

“SriLankan Airlines trial of IATA Travel Pass will help give governments the confidence that digital solutions hold the key to safely re-opening borders and re-connecting people. IATA Travel Pass will help travelers to verify their compliance with COVID-19 requirements using health credentials securely linked to their identity in a digital passport. And this will put SriLankan and its customers in the front line of travel modernization even when this crisis is behind us,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.

SriLankan Airlines is progressively working closely with IATA to expand the rollout of the to more cities across SriLankan route network.

SriLankan Airlines Group Head of Information Technology Chamara Perera said, “This marks another key milestone in providing contactless and digital travel solutions with the highest possible standards of health and safety when flying with SriLankan Airlines. Digital verification of medical records integrated with a digital travel identity confirming “OK to Travel” status will surely boost the confidence among our passengers and border control authorities. SriLankan Airlines successfully on boarded relevant health authorities and medical laboratories with IATA Travel Pass to have globally trusted health regulatory sources connected real-time for independent scrutiny covered by global data privacy standards and regulations”

SriLankan Airlines is the first airline in South Asia to be awarded the “Diamond” status by APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying for the airline‛s efforts in ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitization across its operations. The Airlines introduced neighbour-free travel on Economy Class, giving passengers the option to physically distance themselves inflight and fly in comfort with more space and privacy.

 

Following are the selected sectors for this trial period;

  • Colombo (CMB) – London (LHR)
  • Colombo (CMB) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • London (LHR) – Colombo (CMB)
  • Melbourne (MEL) – Colombo (CMB)
  • Dubai (DXB) – Colombo (CMB)

 



 

 



About us

Lanka Business News is amongst the leading online Business News portals in Sri Lanka, unique for its focus on contemporary business news relevant across multiple industries operating in the country. We present not only the news, but a perspective based on observations and possible implications of a prevailing news item. LBN also provides an insight to the impact of a global economic or industrial development, thus helping stakeholders make informed and calculated decisions.




Follow Us


Newsletter