BA beset Boeing on new Sri Lanka service

British Airways (BA) will launch three weekly flights to Colombo Sri Lanka from London Gatwick in March 2013.

A BA Boeing 777 fitted with three cabins, including Club World with fully flat beds, will operate on the route.

“This is such an exciting new route for us. The UK has the second largest number of tourists visiting the island after India so it's a fantastic opportunity for them to fly there with British Airways from Gatwick,” British Airways managing director Gatwick Silla Maizey said.

The new service will have a stopover in Male in the Maldives, with an approximate total flying time of 12.5 hours.

“Sri Lanka has so much to offer visitors from beach, spa or adventure holidays, to cultural, wildlife and nature breaks,” Ms Maizey added.

The island nation off the coast of India, famous for its coastland and welcoming inhabitants, is currently experiencing somewhat of a revival amongst leisure travellers, according to BA.

British Airways offers a range of hotels which customers can book together with flights.

A dedicated check-in area at Gatwick North Terminal has been set up for passengers travelling on the new route.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia