As per the local air transportation the unprecedented number of bookings from 2024 to top end hotel sites outstation is a clear indication that the Luxury market has picked up in Sri Lanka.
- Sky is the limit for this tourism expert on the possibilities for making life easier with transportation for travellers
A young Sean Dwight, having excelled in sports at school- St. Thomas’ college, in the late 80’s and 90s, will make one think that after leaving school, it would be in the sphere of sports, or sports related,that the young lad would be interested in when setting his sights on a job thereafter. He didn’t have the slightest idea at the time that Tourism was what was going to be his life career,spanning 3 decades and counting.
Having started at the number one inbound tour operator of that time, Walkers Tours, Sean Dwight went from strength to strength covering each area in his chosen career path without internet, with no sites such as booking.com and no social media platform whatsoever for wider public reach, but yet excelled in his chosen path. His expertise gained within the multiple tourism generating markets was immense. It took him up the ladder in the 19 years of service and was placed in various key positions within the John Keels subsidiary, Walkers Tours.
With time this gave him the sufficient strength to hold his own, that squarely and fairly earned him to be considered to the helm of aTourism related company and thus the responsibility was thrust upon him. He’s been flying high the last decade at Cinnamon Air as its Chief Executive Officer.
After taking over the position in 2012, CEO, Sean Dwight saw through the commencement of the first flight of Cinnamon Air in 2013.
Cinnamon Air is a leading domestic provider of opulent scheduled and charter flights in Sri Lanka that can easily connect to international arrivals and departures as well as to commitments within the centre of the capital city. It operates out of its own domestic terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport as well as directly from Colombo City.
With the Tourism sector upbeat about the new targets, it becomes even more important for the public to know what is in fact available as a means of local air transport- a crucial sector for travellers, be it local or foreign.
We put Cinnamon Air CEO Sean Dwight in the Sunday Observer Explorer Hot Seat this week to get the answers to the questions we have.
Q. What does Cinnamon Air provide for the general public in terms of air transportation, what does your fleet consist of and what makes the Cinnamon Air domestic airline different from any other?
A. “We have been a premier mode of transportation to many individuals visiting Sri Lanka, enabling them to reach popular destinations throughout Sri Lanka in a hassle-free manner at a fraction of the travel time. To ensure smooth connectivity with our flights, without long transit times, we have synchronized our flight times with the arrival and departure times of Sri Lankan Airlines and other major international airlines.
“As the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is regaining its volumes, we are poised to add value to foreign travelers’ experience in Sri Lanka through our scheduled flights which, in turn, will enhance the image of the country as an upmarket tourist destination.
In fact, our passengers consider us as an attraction in addition to being a mode of travel due to the unique experience of taking off and landing on water as well as the breathtaking aerial views of Sri Lanka. Further, in order to ensure that our travelers have a safe and enjoyable travel experience, we have health and safety protocols in place, on board as well as prior to boarding the flight”.
“We have two types of Air services -;
1) Flights on Fixed schedule
The flights are to different areas of the country on each day of the week. But they are firm and anyone can take flight on the scheduled flight. The schedule can vary depending which period of the year, as it is designed to cater as per the recorded pattern of passenger travel.
2) Charter Flights
Charter flights are available for clients to book a flight at the convenience of the passengers upon the date they wish to fly.
Cinnamon Air is the only domestic air taxi company in Sri Lanka, operating out of BIA that provides upscale, exclusive private charter flights using fixed-wing aircraft to sites all around the island,. With the help of the amphibious aircraft, passengers can connect to inland and coastal locations quickly and easily from any airfield or water aerodrome in Sri Lanka.
Typically, charter flights are utilized for a variety of things including leisure travel, business travel, travel by sports teams, special events, or group excursions.
Airlines, private jet businesses, or specialist charter operators may run them. The price of a charter flight varies depending on the length of the journey, and any other services the group may want, such as ground transportation
Groups travelling on charter flights may benefit from more individualised and effective service and access to airports and locations that commercial airlines might not be able to reach.
Cinnamon Air offers charter services to and between all Land and Water Aerodromes in Sri Lanka..
Q. Which type of air services is the popular?
A. We have 63% passengers opting for Charter and 37% passengers for schedule flights. Pre Easter attack and Pre Covid, the figures were just the opposite. We had more passengers on scheduled flights.
Q. Why do you think this happened?
A. The luxury market has grown. All indications of the demand we have, we see that. The high end products have come. Although not seen too much, there are a number of high end properties that are catering to this high end demand for charters.
The cost ranges from US$1,500and upwards per charter. Duriing the month of December, January and February, we operated almost 100 of these per month. It was a clear indicator that luxury sector in Tourism has picked up in Sri Lanka.
Q. What is your local passenger uplift?
A. In 2018/2019 we had carried 14,000 passengers in total, both scheduled and charter verticals and and from that 11% were local passengers, however being an USD based pricing service, with the appreciation of the US$, the contribution from the local market dropped to 3%.
Q. How many passengers have you carried on your Cinnamon Air bboth on Charter and scheduled flights since commencing operation in 2013 ?
A. We have had 80.00 passengers in commercial and scheduled flights Cinnamon Air (www.cinnamonair.com ), owned and operated by Saffron Aviation (Pvt) Limited, is a joint venture between Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate, John Keells Holdings PLC, MMBL Leisure Holdings (a part of the Mercantile Merchant Bank Group) and Phoenix Ventures (parent of the Brandix Group).
Q. What are the novel methods that you have come up with?
A. Connecting South Coast of Sri Lanka with Cultural Triangle and Central Hill Country
There are two daily scheduled flights connecting Kandy and Sigiriya with the South Coast destinations Koggala and Hambantota. These flights commenced on 1st November 2024 and will operate until 30th April 2025, strategically timed to cater to the influx of foreign travellers during the winter holiday season.
These cross-country flights are designed to enhance convenience and reduce travel time whileensuring an unparalleled experience for those who wish to explore Sri Lanka’s South Coast after visiting the Cultural Triangle or Central Hill Country.
Cinamon Air cessna 208 amphibian
These flight routesare meticulously crafted to meet the increasing demand for efficient and luxurious travel within Sri Lanka. With these flights,passengers can easily journey from any part of the Cultural Triangle (through Sigiriya)or the Central Hill Country (through Kandy)to the serene South Coast in 40 to 50 minutes, compared to 6 to 7 hours on the road—providing travellers with more time to indulge in the island’s idyllic golden sandy beaches and exciting natural wonders. These seamless cross-country connectionsenable quick air travel to Hambantota, the gateway to Yala National Park, and Koggala, an idyllic base for exploring the coastal cities of Galle, Weligama,Mirissa,Dickwella and Tangalle.
In addition to the significance of the destinations, the flights themselves are a highlight. The routes are serviced by Cinnamon Air’s fleet of Cessna 208 aircraft,and the route originating from Kandy to the South coast is served by the amphibian variation, offering a unique travel experience involving taking off on water.
These aircraft are specifically chosen to enhance the passenger experience, featuring large windows that provide unobstructed views of Sri Lanka’s diverse and stunning landscapes, including panoramic vistas of lush forests, rolling hills, and pristine coastlines.
“We were eager to launch this flight service, which not only enhanced access to Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations but also reinforced the island’s image as a high-end travel destination.
In recent times, we have observed that foreign tourists’ travel patterns within Sri Lanka have been changing—from extensive tours covering various locations to more focused toursinvolving a small number of locations or regions such as the Cultural Triangle, the Central Hill Country, and the South Coast.As a result, we have carefully designed these two flights to meet the needs of international travellers who are visiting Sri Lanka, providing swift, comfortable, and scenic journeys between some of the country’s most treasured locations.”
Q. What are the plans to cater to the east coast demands during the upcoming Summer season?
A. During the periods of May 1st to July 21st and August 31st to October 31st which is considered the off-peak summer period Cinnamon air will operate 2 daily scheduled flights connecting Colombo with Trincomalee and Pasikudah (via Batticaloa), furthermore during the peak summertime July 21st to August 31st Cinnamon air operates 3 daily scheduled flights with flights starting at 7:30 AM, while these flights are aligned perfectly with international flight arrivals and departures ensuring smooth transit for travelers, whether they are travelling via Sri Lankan Airlines or other carriers.
The journey between Colombo and Trincomalee/Batticaloa by road can take over 7 hours, if considered stops along the way travel time may even go up to 8 hours, combined with travel disputes like congested roads, traffic, dusty conditions and weather hazards may lead to travel exhaustion. Whereas Cinnamon Air offers a faster,comfortable,swift and a hassle-free alternative with a 45-minute air taxi transfer starting at just USD 130 per passenger one way, giving the chance for travelers to avoid these challenges and arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and relaxed, ready for summer adventures.
“As we continue to expand our network, we remain true to our goal of making Sri Lanka’s incredible diversity more accessible while ensuring that every journey with Cinnamon Air is a memorable experience. With the introduction of this new route, Cinnamon Air reaffirms its commitment to elevating the tourism experience in Sri Lanka.”
