FLYDUBAI made a special touch down at the new Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, also known as Hambantota International Airport, as part of the airport’s official opening day celebrations.
flydubai’s chief commercial officer, Hamad Obaidalla, headed the delegation on the same day the carrier announced it will start a three-times a week service to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport from May 21, 2013.
Commenting on the occasion, Obaidalla, said: “We are grateful to the authorities for their continued support and for giving flydubai the opportunity to serve the Sri Lankan market. We launched flights to Colombo in July 2010 with a four times weekly service. Following increased demand this rose to five times a week two months later, before daily operations began in March 2012. We are delighted to start operations to the new Mattala Airport, which will help to increase the accessibility and drive the development of the Eastern and Southern coasts.”
Through this second route to the island, flydubai continues to further support the Sri Lanka Government’s efforts to bring in 2.5 million visitors a year by 2016. The airline carried 104,000 passengers in 2012, recording a remarkable 67 per cent year-on-year growth.
The airline also launched a new route to Salalah expanding its presence in the Sultanate of Oman. Flights to Salalah will begin on 21 May 2013 and operate three times a week.