11 November 2016 - SriLankan Airlines, the National Airline of Sri Lanka and award-winning carrier, has had a strong year during 2016, reporting a progressive increase in UK passenger numbers compared to 2015.

With SriLankan Airlines' state-of-the-art A330-300 fleet, it has seen a positive growth in outbound long-haul travel therefore strengthening its position as a leading international airline.

The latest news and developments from SriLankan Airlines include:

London to Become SriLankan Airlines' Gateway to Europe from November 2016
SriLankan Airlines has announced changes to its network and schedule including the decision to make London Heathrow the gateway to Europe from the first week of November 2016 and to operate routes to Continental Europe through code shares with partners*.

SriLankan Airlines to Start Flights to Gan International Airport in the Maldives from December 2016
From December 2016, SriLankan Airlines will operate a four-day-a–week service from Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to Gan International Airport in the Addu Atoll, Maldives, making it the only international airline to serve Gan. The new flights will take approximately two hours and will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, costing from around $300 (£244) per person, for a round trip.

SriLankan Airlines Named Best Full Service Airline in Central & South Asia
SriLankan Airlines emphasised its positioning as an airline of choice among discerning global travellers by winning the “Best Full Service Airline in Central and South Asia” at the Future Travel Experience Asia Awards 2016 in Singapore for the second consecutive year. Full service airlines were judged on an extensive range of criteria in their products and service, including business class, economy and other classes, long-haul flights, short-haul flights, in-flight entertainment systems, cabin crew service, comfort, food and beverage, consistency of service and overall passenger experience.

SriLankan Airlines Aviation College 
The SriLankan Airlines Aviation College is the only European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Aviation College in the region offering engineering, ground handling and cabin crew training in-house and as result is steadily becoming a magnet for students from Sri Lanka looking to build a successful career in the aviation industry.

For more details on SriLankan Airlines, visit www.srilankan.com/en_uk.

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Notes to Editors
* SriLankan has mutual code-share services with Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air Canada, Qantas, Alitalia, Oman Air, Finnair, Jetstar Asia, Japan Airlines, NIKI, Air Berlin, American Airlines and Qatar Airways.

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