Arkia Airlines announced this morning (Wednesday) that it is resuming its direct route to Sri Lanka for a limited time as part of preparations for the Tishrei holidays. The decision comes in response to the increase in the number of Israelis visiting the island and early demand for holiday travel.
"We are attentive to the desires of the travelers and are already preparing for the Tishrei holidays, which are characterized by particularly high demand," said Einat Younger Carmeli, Vice President of Marketing at Arkia. "In light of the demand and the great love of the Israeli public for Sri Lanka—a destination that combines breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and dreamy beaches suitable for both those who want relaxation and for surfers looking for the perfect wave—we chose to renew the route in a direct format," she added. "We call on the public to prepare in advance and secure a place for themselves at particularly attractive prices," urged Carmeli.
The direct flights to Sri Lanka will be operated during the autumn holidays, with a total of five flights scheduled every Saturday from September 21 to October 19.
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Arkia Airlines will utilize a wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft from the Bulgarian company Gallivair for the route, which has a capacity of 326 passengers and a flight time of approximately eight hours. Yesterday, Arkia announced that it is adding another wide-body backup aircraft to its fleet in anticipation of the summer season. The added Airbus A330-200 aircraft from Gallivair will operate in service of the Israeli company during the summer months and the holiday season, and will be used for regular routes and as a reserve during peak demand periods.
The price for a one-way ticket on Arkia Airlines' flights to Sri Lanka starts at $499, totaling $998 for a round trip, excluding trolley or suitcase. A suitcase weighing up to 20 kg will cost $45 when ordered in advance, each way, instead of $40 currently. A trolley suitcase (up to 8 kg) will cost $20 when ordered in advance, instead of $15 currently. The price for purchasing a trolley suitcase at the airport will increase from $20 currently to $25. The price for purchasing baggage at the airport will remain unchanged at $90.
Arkia Airlines will offer a variety of vacation package options to Sri Lanka, including hotels, allowing travelers to plan a full vacation.
Sri Lanka became a popular destination among Israelis in recent years due to its combination of nature, culture, beach holidays, and exoticism. According to data from the beginning of the current year, about 11,000 tourists from Israel arrived in Sri Lanka. The country is already recording over one million tourists in the current year, even before the start of the popular season for visitors from around the world. About two weeks ago, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority published that the country continues to achieve results in the tourism sector.