SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the Oneworld alliance, will be establishing its presence in Australia with daily non-stop services to Melbourne from Oct. 29.
Australia is home to one of the largest Sri Lankan expatriate communities, many of whom reside in and around Melbourne, the capital of Australia’s “Garden State,” Victoria. This factor, together with the tremendous potential for business travel and Victoria’s growing student population convinced the airline to launch the non-stop daily services to Melbourne.
The services will also facilitate passengers from the Middle East and South Asia seeking onward connectivity via Colombo to/from Australia.
Capt. Suren Ratwatte, chief executive of SriLankan Airlines, said: “Our presence in Australia cements the long-standing relationship between our two countries. We recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our nations, and the addition of Melbourne signifies our strategy of optimizing the airline’s network in line with our restructuring. This also means that we have connected another continent to our global route map.”
He added: “Given the number of Sri Lankans residing in and around Victoria, we fulfil a long felt need for a direct service. We are proud to welcome all the diverse residents of Victoria who can now enjoy the direct connections when visiting their friends and families throughout our network.”
The airline will be operating Airbus 330-200 aircraft on the route, offering its passengers modern in-flight comforts complemented with its award-winning service.
Siva Ramachandran, chief commercial officer, SriLankan Airlines, said, “Despite the absence of direct connections, we have witnessed a steady increase in passengers traveling between Colombo and Melbourne via various Asian connecting points such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Our direct services will give us a definite advantage as SriLankan is the only carrier that is able to offer connectivity of this nature at this time. We also offer seamless onward connections beyond Colombo to a range of destinations in the Indian subcontinent and Middle East. With the launch of the new services, SriLankan Airlines’ passengers will also have the choice of flying to other Australian cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide as well as Auckland, New Zealand.”
SriLankan Airlines to commence daily direct flights to Melbourne
SriLankan Airlines to commence daily direct flights to Melbourne
Kingdom Centre’s comprehensive upgrade nears completion
Chairwoman of the Board of Kingdom Centre Nada Alateegi announced that the final phase of the comprehensive upgrade and redevelopment works at the iconic Riyadh landmark has neared completion.
Kingdom Centre was never intended to be just a shopping destination or a business hub, Alateegi said, but rather a space to deliver exceptional experiences. The experience is now being elevated to a new level of luxury that seamlessly brings together refined hospitality, high-end retail, and world-class business environments.
She said that Kingdom Centre, inaugurated in 2001, commenced its modernization project in April 2023. The project is being implemented in partnership with a group of top-tier global designers and renowned contractors, and led by the Kingdom Centre management team, to ensure the highest standards of quality and precision.
The upgrades were carried out in accordance with the best safety practices, while maintaining uninterrupted operations and ensuring visitors’ comfort and safety are preserved throughout, Alateegi said. This approach reflects the vision and directives of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and has contributed to the center receiving several awards, including its recognition for “visionary design and development.”
She added that Kingdom Centre had installed the largest fully integrated digital screen on Kingdom Tower facades, operated exclusively in partnership with digital advertising and media solutions leader Rotana Signs. The screen serves as an international showcase reflecting Riyadh’s evolution and its growing global standing.
Kingdom Centre is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands, in addition to VOX Cinemas, purpose-designed to world-class specifications guided by the center’s management vision.
Moreover, Kingdom Centre introduced Al-Mamlaka Social Dining zone, which has become one of the region’s leading dining experiences and a model for other investors. Conceived by the center’s management to elevate the visitor experience, the Social Dining concept has been officially registered as the intellectual property of Kingdom Centre.
Kingdom Centre has also launched a mobile application and a dedicated visitor loyalty program offering a range of benefits. This initiative is part of the center’s digital transformation strategy and aims to strengthen long-term engagement with visitors.
Kingdom Centre’s management remains committed to setting a leading example for the sector, delivering innovative experiences that support Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions and align with Saudi Vision 2030, Alateegi added.
