Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has restarted its services to Srilankan capital Colombo after eight long years. The airline said it will operate 10 weekly flights on this sector.

The inaugural flight took off on Tuesday from Bahrain International Airport carrying Gulf Air chief executive officer Samer Majali and a team of officials and journalists, seen off by senior officials from Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority, Bahrain Airport Company and Gulf Air executives.

Commenting on the launch, Majali said, “Our relationship with Sri Lanka started nearly 35 years ago when we launched our services to the capital Colombo in 1976 and flew until 2002.'

'Over the years, Gulf Air has been the favorite airline not only for thousands of Sri Lankans living and working in Bahrain but also for Bahrainis who have been flocking to this beautiful country for vacation for many years,' he noted.

“Gulf Air has also been a key link for hundreds of Sri Lankan businessmen exporting goods ranging from tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber to cinnamon to Bahrain and beyond in the Middle East region,” he said.

“Now that peace has returned, I am glad the time has come for us to re-connect with Sri Lanka. The country is back in full action with its economy springing back to its dynamic past. I personally see there is a huge business and tourism opportunity for both countries as we recommence services,” he added.

With five flights a week departing at convenient timings, passengers - both businessmen and leisure travelers alike - will easily find a flight to a destination of their choice, the airline chief said.

'With Bahrain’s ‘business friendly’ economic policies and its strategic location at the door-step of Saudi Arabia offering a multi-million dollar business market, the re-commencement of service to Colombo will be a great news for the Sri Lankan business community as they now have a direct and non-stop service to Bahrain,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service