Demand To Connect London and Jaffna Direct via Air – Can SriLankan Airlines Do It?

British Labor MP Gareth Thomas has launched a petition calling for direct flights between London and Jaffna.

Titled ‘Bring Direct Flights to Jaffna,’ the petition says such a service would make it easier for British Tamil families of Sri Lankan origin to travel between the UK and Jaffna.

Thomas says British Tamil families traveling to Jaffna currently have to enter Sri Lanka through Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, the country’s primary international gateway, before continuing their journey by road to the North.

Thomas, who represents Harrow West, an area with a considerable Tamil population, says traveling to Jaffna via Colombo can be particularly difficult, given the distance between the two cities.

The road journey from Colombo to Jaffna is approximately 400 kilometers and can take around seven hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.

According to Thomas, establishing a direct air service would reduce travel time, improve accessibility and help strengthen family, cultural and community connections between the UK and Northern Sri Lanka.

His petition also highlights the potential benefits to tourism, investment and economic development in the Northern Province.

Thomas is calling on the UK Government, Sri Lankan authorities, airlines and London airports to work together to explore and support a commercially viable direct flight service between London and Jaffna International Airport.

The campaign is also inviting members of the public to sign the petition in support of efforts to establish the proposed air connection.

Despite the campaign, however, it is unlikely that a regular direct service would come into operation immediately, particularly given questions surrounding its commercial viability.

“One option that could be explored is a seasonal direct flight, which an airline could operate during periods when thousands of Tamils travel to Sri Lanka for festive and holiday periods,” said travel expert Denis Madanayake.

The Sri Lankan Government has been exploring opportunities to further develop and utilise Jaffna International Airport, which could potentially play a greater role in connecting Northern Sri Lanka with international destinations.

One option that could be considered is for SriLankan Airlines to operate a seasonal direct service from London to Jaffna during peak festive travel periods, with the aircraft subsequently operating a return or onward service to Colombo.

Such an arrangement could provide an opportunity to test the market, assess passenger demand and determine whether a direct London–Jaffna service could eventually become commercially sustainable.