The Jaffna International Airport (JIA) commenced international commercial flight operations from today. The inauguration of operations was initiated by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, as it begins scheduled flights weekly from Jaffna to Chennai. This occasion also marks a milestone in Sri Lankan aviation history, with local operator FITS Aviation becoming the first privately owned local airline licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka to operate internationally. The airline will operate scheduled and charter flights from JIA to Chennai and Tiruchirappalli International Airports in South India. Dammika Ranatunga, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, said, “We are extremely proud of JIA’s transformation. After decades of non-operation, it will now contribute greatly to the Sri Lankan economy by boosting tourism and increasing investment prospects in the hospitality sector.” “Sri Lanka is ranked as 1^st for aviation safety in South Asia and the 19^th globally by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in respect of effective implementation of international standards relating to aviation safety. All employees serving in the JIA’s safety and security are highly trained and majority of them have been transferred from the BIA to maintain the same standards,” Ranatunga added . Under the guidance of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, JIA’s extensive redevelopment programme began earlier this year with an investment of almost LKR 1 billion by the government of Sri Lanka. [foogallery id="57413"]