New figures posted by SriLankan Airlines have revealed that the Middle East as a region has exceeded its revenue targets for the financial year ending March 2006, with the Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices in particular performing well in attracting new custom for the carrier.

According to UAE country manager Desiree Premachandra, an increasing number of passengers were using SriLankan to travel, via Colombo, to India and other Asian destinations, enjoying premium onboard service and facilities combined with exceptional value-for-money pricing.

“Overall, we achieved the highest passenger carriage since starting flights to the Gulf, with local sales exceeding 55,000 tickets, a 65 per cent rise over 2004/5,” she said.

“Numbers to Trivandrum were up more than 20 per cent, Trichy passengers rose by 45 per cent, while Cochin saw an 185 per cent rise over the previous year and Chennai recorded an 11 per cent increase above the previous record set in 1994/5.”

Passengers bound for Colombo, for either business or leisure, also increased by 35 per cent, a result attributed in part to the aggressive marketing adopted by SriLankan in the UAE where golf, family, sports and sightseeing holidays have been promoted during the year.

“We increased capacity from Sri Lanka to the UAE, with 40 per cent more seats available to Dubai alone but we have upped revenues by 52 per cent, and this total was our highest ever from the station,” she added.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s contribution to revenues rose 94 per cent with passenger numbers nearly 84 per cent above target.

“We now offer an excellent service from both emirates, providing visitors to Sri Lanka and onward travellers to points in India and South-East Asia with convenient connections – and this is reflected in the results achieved during the past year,” concluded Premachandra.