Israeli airline Arkia announced Wednesday it will resume direct flights to Sri Lanka for a limited time during the upcoming Jewish high holiday season, offering five round-trip flights starting at $499 one way or $998 round trip—not including luggage.
Sri Lanka, an island nation located between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, south of the Indian subcontinent, will be served by Arkia's Airbus A330 aircraft on nonstop flights lasting approximately eight hours. Scheduled departure dates are September 21 and 28, and October 5, 12, and 19. Arkia will also offer vacation packages to the destination.
Last month, Arkia announced price hikes for checked and carry-on baggage on international flights, effective July 1. A checked bag weighing up to 20 kg (44 lb) will cost $45 when booked in advance, up from $40. The airport rate remains $90. Carry-on luggage (up to 8 kg or 17.6 lb) will cost $20 in advance, up from $15, and $25 if paid at the airport, up from the current $20.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Arkia’s VP of Marketing, Einat Yunger Carmeli, said the company is preparing for the high holiday demand and responding to strong interest in Sri Lanka. “Due to the high demand and Israelis’ love for Sri Lanka—an exotic destination with breathtaking landscapes, rich culture and dreamy beaches perfect for both sunbathers and surfers—we’ve decided to renew the route as a direct service,” she said.
On Tuesday, Arkia also announced it’s adding a wide-body backup aircraft to its fleet for the summer and holiday seasons. The plane, an Airbus A330-200 operated by Bulgarian airline Gallivair, will be used by the Israeli carrier during peak months.