FitsAir: Sri Lanka’s First Private Airline Expands International Operations

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FitsAir, Sri Lanka's first privately-owned airline, is set to commence scheduled international flights starting from the 4th of this month. Initially, the airline will launch its services from Sri Lanka to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The company has announced that the introduction of FitsAir will create more opportunities for both commercial activities and tourism-related air travel.

Additionally, FitsAir has committed to offering affordable air travel options, with return tickets to Kuala Lumpur starting from LKR 65,300.

Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, recently stated in Parliament that the country is moving forward with the launch of private airline services.

FitsAir-Passenger and Cargo 

FITS Aviation (Pvt) Limited, formerly known as ExpoAir, is a Sri Lankan airline that operates both passenger and cargo flights. It serves domestic routes within Sri Lanka as well as international destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The company's slogan is "Friend in the Skies."

FitsAir operates under Aberdeen Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a diversified business group, and was the first Sri Lankan airline certified under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. It was also the first domestic airline authorized to fly to Jaffna by the Civil Aviation Department.

Evolution of the Airline

1997: Expo Aviation was founded.

1998: Operations began using Antonov An-8 aircraft, later replaced by An-12 aircraft.

2001: Started domestic operations to Jaffna using Ilyushin Il-18 and Antonov An-26 aircraft.

2002: Leased three Fokker F27 aircraft from Oman Air.

2005: Applied to the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority (CAASL) for international cargo services.

2012: Restarted scheduled passenger flights from Ratmalana to Jaffna using a Cessna 208 Caravan.

2019: Expanded domestic services with flights from Colombo to Batticaloa.

2020: Restarted scheduled flights to Jaffna using an ATR 72-200 aircraft.

2021: Acquired three A320-200 aircraft for passenger operations.

2022: Launched its first scheduled commercial passenger flight from Colombo (CMB) to Dubai (DXB) on October 5.

2023: Expanded international services with flights to Chennai and increased daily flights to Dubai.

FitsAir’s Growing Fleet

The airline currently operates a modern fleet, including Airbus A320-200 and A321 aircraft, catering to both passenger and cargo transport needs.

As Sri Lanka’s first privately-owned airline, FitsAir plays a crucial role in the country’s aviation sector. By offering competitive pricing and expanding its international network, the airline contributes to the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and global trade connections.

The upcoming launch of flights to Kuala Lumpur marks an important milestone for FitsAir, with plans to further expand its services to additional international destinations in the near future.