On December 28, SkyUp Airlines began charter flights on a systematic basis from Kiev Borispol airport to the resort island of Sri Lanka.
To operate the flights, the air carrier chose the airport in the city of Hambantota on the shores of the Indian Ocean. It is one of the main ports of Sri Lanka and not a tourist center. This means that tourists will need to get to their holiday destinations by land transport.
According to the SkyUp schedule, the airline will operate flights to Sri Lanka four times a week until March 17, 2022.
Air tickets can be bought separately from tours, but with reference to the time spent in Sri Lanka for 10 days without the ability to change the departure date. For example, if you choose a flight from Kiev on January 5, you must return back on January 15.
Round-trip tickets without luggage for the next flights cost UAH 17,700, with luggage – UAH 19,900. For longer flights, the price starts at UAH 13,300.
For flights to Sri Lanka, SkyUp uses medium-range Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a maximum capacity of 189 seats.
The range of the airliner is not enough to carry out a flight of this range. Because of this, on the way back and forth, the aircraft lands at Sharjah airport in the UAE for refueling. The stop is considered technical – passengers do not leave the plane at the terminal. Travel time is 10.5 hours on the way to Sri Lanka and 12 hours in the opposite direction.
Entry to Sri Lanka
Ukrainian citizens must apply for a visa to visit Sri Lanka. This can be done online for $ 35 at the official website eta.gov.lk.
According to the consular service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sri Lanka allows adult Ukrainian tourists to enter without quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 14 days have passed since the last vaccination. Children can fly without vaccination if accompanied by vaccinated adults.
Before flying to Sri Lanka, tourists who have turned 12 years old must do a PCR test no more than 72 hours before boarding the plane. Upon arrival, a repeated test is required for children from 12 to 18 years old, if they have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.