A Russian airlines Aeroflot flight arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning (10), resuming flights between Moscow and Colombo after a lapse of 4 months.

Russia’s flagship carrier had announced that it is suspending commercial flights to Sri Lanka after the island nation’s authorities detained the airline’s Airbus A330 jet on June 02.

On June 03, Aeroflot reported that the departure of its SU-289 flight from Colombo to Moscow scheduled for June 2 was at first delayed and then cancelled due to the absence of permit from Sri Lanka’s aviation authorities.

This was after the Colombo Commercial High Court satisfied a complaint filed by Ireland’s Celestial Aviation Trading Limited leasing company against Aeroflot and banned its Airbus A330 jet from leaving the country until June 16. 

However, on July 15, the Colombo Commercial High Court dismissed the case filed by an Irish company against Russia’s Aeroflot airline with costs.

Last month, Aeroflot decided to resume flights from Moscow to Sri Lanka with effect from October 09, 2022. 

“Starting from October, Aeroflot will resume regular flights to Colombo, Bangkok, and Goa. Flights will be operated on Airbus A330 aircraft,” the airlines said in a statement.

From October 09, the airline will resume Colombo flights, which will initially operate twice a week.

From October 30, Aeroflot will re-launch seven weekly flights to Bangkok, and from November 02, the airline will operate up to three weekly services to Goa.