India’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC), IndiGo Airlines (6E), has unveiled plans to launch new Jaffna flights. The airline plans to strengthen its presence in Sri Lanka with non-stop flights from Bengaluru (BLR).
Unlike its usual focus on Colombo, this move marks a strategic shift towards expanding operations at Sri Lanka’s secondary airport. This expansion will enhance air connectivity between South India and Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The non-stop flights will offer passengers a more convenient and time-saving travel option.
IndiGo representativesrecently held discussions with Northern Province Governor – Nandalalingam Vethanayagam. The discussions were held focusing on the increasing passenger demand for direct flights between Bengaluru and Jaffna.
Currently, there are flights to Jaffna only from Chennai. A large number of people travel between the two cities.Thisincludes over 25,000 annual pilgrims and others travelling for business, and leisure purposes. All of these frequently fly between these two regions.
However, due to the lack of direct connectivity, many travelers have to transit through Chennai or Colombo, leading to longer travel times and additional costs. IndiGo’s direct Bengaluru-Jaffna service will resolve these challenges. Non-stop flights provide a seamless, time-efficient travel experience.
Additionally, the proposed route would cater to both the Tamil diaspora living in South India and Sri Lankan travelers. This will further boost regional connectivity.
IndiGo has significant presence in Sri Lanka. The airline is the largest foreign carrier operating in the country. IndiGo currently operates 54 weekly flights between India and Sri Lanka. The airline connects Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai to Colombo. Chennai is the only city to have connections to two Srilankan cities as IndiGo flies to even Jaffna.
IndiGo’s entry into the Chennai-Jaffna sector in September 2024 made it only the second Indian carrier to operate on this route. The airline seems to have succeeded in this service. This success would have encouraged the airline to expand further by launching non-stop flights from Bengaluru.
With Bengaluru serving as IndiGo’s largest hub in South India, the new flight will not only serve direct passengers but also provide one-stop connections from other major cities such as Hyderabad, Pune, and Delhi, making travel to Jaffna even more accessible.