IndiGo, India's largest airline, has unveiled Jaffna, Sri Lanka as its latest international destination ahead of its 18th anniversary. Commencing on September 1, 2024, the airline will offer non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna. This addition marks IndiGo's second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo expanding its network to 34 international and 122 overall destinations. Bookings for the new route are open from August 1, 2024.


According to a release from IndiGo, India continues to be the leading source of international tourists to Sri Lanka. In June 2024, Indian tourists constituted 25.2% of the total arrivals, with over 28,631 travelers, up from a 26.7% share in June 2023, which saw around 26,830 passengers. The increasing interest in travel to Jaffna reportedly highlights the significance of IndiGo’s new route in enhancing regional accessibility,. 


Jaffna will complement the airline's existing flights to Colombo, offering travelers a secondary access point in Sri Lanka, as per the release.


On launch of non-stop daily flights between Chennai and Jaffna, Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, stated, "We are pleased to announce Jaffna as our new destination in Sri Lanka, which will serve as a catalyst in enhancing trade and tourism between our two countries. In addition to these daily flights from Chennai to Jaffna, we also offer 30 weekly frequencies from four points in India to Colombo."


"This 75-minute flight will significantly reduce travel time, making Jaffna, Sri Lanka even more accessible. We are continuously working towards providing our customers with superior connectivity and enhanced accessibility to explore new horizons with our ever-expanding range of travel options,” he said. 


Further, this move is aimed to bolster the strong cultural and trade ties between India and Sri Lanka, which have been reportedly characterised by cooperation in commerce, infrastructure development and air connectivity. 


Tamils Of Jaffna & Tamil Nadu: The Link


Jaffna, situated in northern Sri Lanka, has long been a center of Tamil culture. The Tamils of Jaffna have deep-rooted connections with the Tamils of Tamil Nadu in India. Historical accounts and ancient texts reveal a rich history of trade, cultural exchange and political relations between the Tamil kingdoms of South India and the Jaffna Kingdom in Sri Lanka.


The Tamil communities in Jaffna and Tamil Nadu are closely linked. The Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009) intensified these connections, as many Tamils from Jaffna fled to Tamil Nadu during the conflict. This movement fostered a blending of communities and heightened the awareness of shared experiences among Tamils on both sides of the Palk Strait.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has consistently demonstrated solidarity with the Tamil people of Jaffna, particularly during the civil war.


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