Country Manager Deepal Pallegangoda of Mihin Lanka in Muscat said the base ticket rates will start from OMR 6 (about Rs. 2,200) and with other charges, it will come to around OMR 45 (Rs. 16, 400).

“Such cheap rates will be a blessing for passengers travelling to south Indian destinations,” the Mihin Lanka Country Manager has told the Times of Oman.

“Moreover, the airline will allow baggage of up to 50 kilograms (kg), including the hand baggage, for economy class passengers and 60 kg for business class passengers,” he added.

The Muscat-Colombo-Muscat flight operations will start from 25 October, with four flights per week and from 25 November, the airline will start flying five flights per week.

Initially, the flights will depart on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Later, they will depart on Wednesday as well.

The passengers will be provided connectivity flights on single tickets purchased from Muscat to south Indian destinations, such as Kochi, Trivandrum, Madurai, Chennai, Trichy and Bangalore via Colombo.

The move was a part of the airline’s five-year expansion plan to achieve greater growth, whilst enhancing connectivity throughout the region.

Meanwhile, Mihin Lanka Marketing Consultant Ingird Guruge said there was a 52% increase in the number of Omani passengers travelling to Sri Lanka in 2014, compared with 2013.

“We are expecting more because the rates will be cheaper in Mihin Lanka. Moreover, Sri Lanka is one of the best tourist destinations in South Asia. Omanis prefer the country for its natural beauty,” Guruge said.

According to airline officials, Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry is planning to increase the room capacity to 45,000 by 2016.