Cinnamon Air, a domestic airline in Sri Lanka, marks a decade of commitment to excellence and innovation in the aviation industry. Set up in 2013, Cinnamon Air contributes to the nation’s reputation as a premier tourist destination.
Cinnamon Air has a dedicated passenger terminal and an aircraft maintenance facility at Bandaranaike International Airport. This distinctive infrastructure reflects the airline’s dedication to providing a swift, secure, and convenient mode of transportation within the island.
Bernard Goonetilleke
The airline’s inception in 2013 was undertaken by Saffron Aviation, a joint venture between John Keells Holdings PLC, MMBL-Pathfinder Group, and Phoenix Ventures. Cinnamon Air operates a fleet of three Cessna 208 aircraft, including two amphibian planes. These aircraft offer flexibility, enabling service to destinations that do not have land-based airports but are equipped with suitable water aerodromes.
The amphibian aircraft also elevates the travel experience, providing passengers with the rare thrill of taking off and landing on water. Meticulously maintained and outfitted with luxurious interiors, each aircraft is operated and maintained by highly trained professionals.
Cinnamon Air operates scheduled flights to popular tourist destinations across the country, including the Hill Country, South coast, East coast, Cultural Triangle, and the Northern region. The hub of its operations is at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, complemented by the Colombo City water aerodrome at Waters Edge in Battaramulla.
The inaugural scheduled flight took to the skies in July 2013. Beyond scheduled services, Cinnamon Air also offers charter flights, providing passengers with unmatched flexibility, privacy, and the freedom to fly between any operational airport or water aerodrome in Sri Lanka.
Director, Saffron Aviation, Bernard Goonetilleke said, “Sri Lanka possesses tremendous potential in the tourism industry, but swift access to famous destinations has been lacking — we founded Cinnamon Air to bridge that gap, offering quick, safe, and comfortable transfers across the country.
“Over the past decade, we have become a key player in Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape, enhancing the nation’s image as a high-end tourist destination,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Cinnamon Air, Sean Dwight said, “While we have served over 80,000 passengers, including numerous high-profile clients, through scheduled and charter flights since the beginning of our service, we have achieved several notable milestones.
In our peak financial year 2018/19, we served over 15,000 passengers. Even after the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted the global aviation industry, Cinnamon Air has experienced a steady resurgence in demand.
“We take pride in our demonstrated excellence and remain committed to further elevating our services and expanding our destination portfolio. Our goal is to make Sri Lanka’s glory more accessible to all those who visit this magnificent island,” he said.
