Sri Lanka has begun exporting seafood to Ukraine on a new route from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport to Kiev operated by SkyUp Airlines. SkyUp is flying to Sri Lanka via Sharjah carrying tourists and is now taking back those who have completed their stay. The outward bound SkyUp flght PQ-0556 to Ukraine had carried the first seafood shipment of 685 kilogram made up of tuna, prawn and mullet. “MRIA is positioned to utilizing its strategic geographical location to boost passenger movements, and is now aggressively marketing its capability to attract cargo exports..,” Shehan Sumanasekara, Director of Operations, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited said. “Sri Lanka has emerged as a quality fish and seafood exporter, addressing such opportunities, MRIA is ready and equipped to handle increased volumes of seafood air freight cargo in the future.”
Sumanasekara said Mattala is supporting local producers to market fresh vegetables, fisheries, fresh fruits and ornamental fish bringing in foreign earnings. Sumanasekera said plans are underway to make Mattala Airport a cargo transhipment hub in the future linking the airport and seaport via bonded trucking and rail. In addition to SkyUp, Ukraine International Airlines is also flying to Mattala, extending its regular flight to Oman.