Sri Lankan Airlines will open direct flights from Beijing to Colombo from June 15, the first Sri Lankan air route linking the two nations.

The aircraft will fly every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with stopovers in Bangkok. Compared with previous flights that transferred in Hong Kong, the flying hours have been shortened by three hours. It only takes another 45 minutes to fly from Sri Lanka to Maldives.

Sri Lankan Airlines will introduce a special package after launching the first flight. From June 15 to July 15, two and more passengers can enjoy a special price from Beijing to Bangkok for 1,988 yuan (US$248), and to Colombo for 2,988 yuan (US$373), and to 10 Indian cities for 3,088 yuan (US$386).

Aviation and tourism insiders say that the new route will facilitate travelers to Sri Lanka and Maldives and will help the two south nations recover from damages done by the tsunami in late December last year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2005)