National Carrier retains title for fifth consecutive year at World Travel Awards

SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld alliance, has won the prestigious ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ title once again at the World Travel Awards Grand Final held in Moscow. 

SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage said the latest accolade demonstrates the Airline’s commitment to delivering the Government of Sri Lanka’s vision of making Sri Lanka an aviation hub in Asia and the company was building on its business plan to strengthen its position as a fully-fledged international airline.  “Yet again, SriLankan Airlines has made a tremendous mark in the region. We have a proud history that spans over four decades of operations,” he said. “Winning the ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ for the fifth-year running is commendable especially given the current situation with COVID-19 which continues to cause disruption to the aviation and travel industry. It is proof of the National Carrier’s superior and dedicated focus to its service and operations time and again which gives SriLankan Airlines resilience to face any adversity.”

The airline has been winning the coveted title since 2016 and this year the National Carrier not only won the title as ‘Asia’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ but also was honoured with the title ‘Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign’ at the WTA Asia ceremony in 2020.

The award is also symbolic of SriLankan’s commitment to serve the South Asian region, and India in particular by connecting 11 Indian cities to Sri Lanka and beyond. The airline also operates to other cities in South Asia including Male, Dhaka, Karachi, and Lahore.

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka said: “At a time the industry is faced with unprecedented challenges, it is reassuring to know that SriLankan Airlines remains a top brand in the minds of travellers and the industry in the South Asian region. Winning this award for the fifth consecutive year reaffirms our stature in the Indian Subcontinent. Looking ahead for better times, we aim to further fortify our presence, by bringing in more of the world to the Indian Ocean region.” 

This year’s WTA’s World’s Leading Destination, Maldives has been Sri Lanka’s extended home market with its connectivity to Malé and Gan Island, thus facilitating leisure-seekers from its extensive network in the Middle East, Europe, Far East, and Australia. SriLankan also became the first Airline to connect Gan Island of South Maldives with the world, thus becoming the only international airline to operate out of two points in the Maldives. Currently, the Airline operates an exclusive direct service from London to Malé. 

The airline also connects travellers to the much sought-after holiday getaway, the Seychelles via its Colombo hub, offering a wider range of prime leisure destinations in the Indian Ocean region. 

The other award winners are Dubai International Airport, Hilton London Heathrow Airport, Sandals Grenada, The Algarve Portugal, Holiday Inn Express, JW Mariott, Hertz, and Norwegian Cruise Line. 

World Travel Awards, celebrating its 27th anniversary this year, was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

SIA to resume flights to Colombo from tomorrow