SriLankan Airlines has launched a weekly scheduled passenger flight between Colombo and Nairobi.

The service commenced on April 22 between Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).

An Airbus A330, with 269 seats in economy and 28 in business class, is used on the route. Flight UL1715 departs Colombo at 10h45 on a Thursday, landing at Nairobi at 14h40. The return flight, UL1716 departs from Nairobi at 04h40 and arrives in Colombo at 13h55.

The airline says demand for a Nairobi service has increased dramatically, as it is a business and leisure hub for Central and East Africa.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman, Ashok Pathirage, said: “We are delighted to be launching flights to the capital of Kenya, as SriLankan Airlines expands to the African region. We hope to see many people visit Kenya and explore the world’s stunning wildlife by offering seamless connectivity through its global route network, in addition to establishing a strong presence in Kenya.”