Jaffna-Chennai air travel commences

Direct flights will operate on three days every week between both cities

Pic by T.K.G. Kapila 

• First flight landed at Jaffna  with 12 passengers on board 

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama 

Alliance Air yesterday commenced commercial air services between Jaffna  International Airport and Chennai International  Airport. 

 According to Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority Director-General H.M.C. Nimalsiri, the first Alliance Air flight landed at Jaffna  Airport last noon with 12 passengers on board. “The same flight left for Chennai at 12.45 p.m. with 35 passengers,” he said. 

On a different note, he said direct air flights would operate on three days every week between the two cities. 

“Direct flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flight 9I 102 will depart from Jaffna at 12.45 hours India Standard Time (IST) and arrive in Chennai at 14.10 hours. Flight 9I 101 will depart from Chennai at 10.35 hours IST and arrive in Jaffna at 12.00 hours,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Alliance Air said Jaffna-Chennai airfare started from USD 45 plus applicable government taxes and/or levies which would be an additional USD 53, while Chennai-Jaffna airfare started from INR 3,990 plus applicable government taxes and/or levies. 

“People can reserve their air tickets from respective websites for various promotional offers or through ticketing agencies. Visas should be obtained from the Consulate General’s Office under the Indian High Commission in Jaffna. The duration of air travel between Jaffna and Chennai is 32-50 minutes,” Nimalsiri said.