Cinnamon Air has resumed daily scheduled flights after a temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline is the only domestic carrier in Sri Lanka offering daily scheduled flights and the only such airline to operate flights from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with a dedicated passenger terminal and aircraft maintenance facility.
As the airline resumed its daily scheduled flight operation, the entire Cessna 208 fleet of Cinnamon Air will operate to destinations such as Sigiriya, Castlereagh, Trincomalee, Batticaloa (serving Pasikudah), Koggala and Weerawila from BIA and Water’s Edge Colombo. The daily scheduled flights were temporarily halted during the pandemic due to the sharp decline in tourist arrivals (the key source of demand for the airline) to the country. However, while strictly adhering to health and safety protocols, the charter flight service continued without disruption. During this period of reduced demand, Cinnamon Air geared itself to better serve its customers by streamlining operations by relocating to a new state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility (hangar) at BIA, which is close to its passenger terminal. As visitor arrivals improve, the airline is expected to be the preferred choice for a safe and convenient mode of travel for tourists to reach popular destinations within the island swiftly.
Sean Dwight, the Chief Executive Officer of Cinnamon Air, said, “We have been a premier mode of transportation to many individuals visiting Sri Lanka, enabling them to reach popular destinations throughout Sri Lanka in a hassle-free manner at a fraction of the travel time. To ensure smooth connectivity with our flights without long transit times, we have synchronized our flight times with the arrival and departure times of Sri Lankan Airlines and other major international airlines. “As the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is regaining its volumes, we are poised to add value to foreign travelers’ experience in Sri Lanka through our scheduled flights which, in turn, will enhance the country’s image as an upmarket tourist destination. Our passengers consider us an attraction in addition to being a mode of travel due to the unique experience of taking off and landing on water and the breathtaking aerial views of Sri Lanka. Further, to ensure that our travelers have a safe and enjoyable travel experience, we have health and safety protocols on board and before boarding the flight”.
