Mihin Lanka expands network with flights to Chennai

Mihin Lanka will commence operations to Chennai, India on 25 October, as part of its ongoing route expansion strategy. 

The airline will introduce three weekly flights to its network, which will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Bandaranaike International Airport. The convenient direct flights will enable passengers to fly to Chennai in just 90 minutes whilst enjoying the comfort and exceptional standards of service that can be experienced on-board Mihin Lanka.

Mihin Lanka Head of Sales Balakrishnan Pirathapan stated: “The decision to include Chennai in Mihin Lanka’s regional route network stems from our strategy to achieve greater growth by driving incremental connectivity from Colombo throughout the region. We are proud to expand our operations to Chennai, thus giving passengers the opportunity to fly directly to this unique destination at an affordable price.” 

He further stated: “We will increase our frequency to four flights a week in November and five flights a week in December and our plan is to eventually operate daily flights by April 2016.”

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and is known as the “Gateway to the South”. It is also at the heart of Tamil culture due to its rich traditional heritage. Chennai is the fourth largest city in India, and is renowned for its crowded streets lined with coconut trees, clusters of villages, beautiful beaches and the warm hospitality of its people. 

Some of the most popular attractions in Chennai include Fort St. George, the Marina Beach, Swami Vivekananda’s House and Museum, Santhome Cathedral Basilica, Kapaleeshwara Temple, Fort Museum, Guindy National Park and the Snake Park. The city offers travellers’ ample opportunities to shop, unwind and experience local cuisines and attractions. Although Chennai is a city that’s rich in cultural heritage, recent years have added a layer of luxury and allure to the city, in the form of contemporary restaurants, plush hotels, shopping malls and swanky bars and clubs. 

The Park Chennai, The Residency Towers and Fortel Chennai are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places to stay in this bustling city. In Chennai, there is also no shortage of places to shop. Phoenix Market City, Spencer Plaza and Express Avenue Mall are the most popular shopping destinations for travellers.

Since its launch in 2007, Mihin Lanka has come a long way, becoming one of the region’s most admired travel brands. In 2015, Mihin Lanka was ranked by Skytrax as the third best low-cost airline in Central Asia and India. 

The Skytrax Awards program established in 1999, surveys 18.9 million airline passengers in 110 countries and bases its rankings on product quality and staff service standards. Mihin Lanka plays a crucial role in supporting regional connectivity, and recently enhanced its offering by introducing its new Business Class service. 

Mihin Lanka services corporate, business, pilgrim, and leisure travellers, by providing convenient direct flights to key destinations across the Indian Subcontinent, Asia and the Middle East. These destinations include Dhaka in Bangladesh, Jakarta and Medan in Indonesia as well as Madurai, Kolkata, Gaya and Varanasi in India. 



The airline also flies to Bahrain and Muscat in the Middle East, as well as Lahore in Pakistan and Mahé in the Seychelles. Mihin Lanka also offers connectivity to a further 20 destinations with its code share partner SriLankan Airlines.