SriLankan wins Singapore growth award

SriLankan Airlines has won the award for 'Top Airline by Growth in Passenger Carriage (South Asia)' from Singapore's Changi Airport for the highest growth in traffic to Singapore from the region in 2009.

SriLankan’s Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand Country Manager Mohan Meegolle accepting the award from Changi Airport Group CEO Lee Seow Hiang.

Changi Airport Group's Market Development Director Lim Ching Kiat said, "this new award by region recognises the airlines that registered the highest growth within their respective regions.

SriLankan Airlines saw strong traffic growth to Singapore in 2009 and we look forward to working closely with SriLankan, as part of the Changi Airport Growth Initiative, to further develop their operations at Changi," he said. SriLankan's Worldwide Sales Head Mohamed Fazeel said, "SriLankan Airlines is delighted to receive this honour as proof of our status as a valued partner for the tourism industries of both Singapore and Sri Lanka. While inter-regional travel from traditional markets such as Europe remains important, SriLankan Airlines fully comprehends the tremendous potential for growth within Asia itself, driven by the insatiable appetite for travel among the fast-growing middle-classes in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and China."

Just weeks ago in neighbouring Malaysia, SriLankan Airlines was named the Best Airline Operator from South Asia for the fifth consecutive year at the annual KLIA Awards which honours contributions to Malaysia's travel and tourism industry. SriLankan was also last month named 'Airline of the Year' at Sri Lanka's Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism 2009 for the second consecutive time.

Travel between Singapore and Sri Lanka has grown by 55 percent in the first six months of 2010. SriLankan's leisure arm SriLankan Holidays also works in close partnership with Singapore's tourism authority to promote it as a destination.

SriLankan's Singapore Country Manager, Mohan Meegolle, said "Singapore is one of the most important hubs for SriLankan Airlines' global operations, to which we have been operating since the inception of our airline in 1979.