A Mihin Lanka flight touched down at Kolkata airport on Wednesday afternoon, marking the commencement of direct flight services between the city and Colombo, Times of India reported.

The thrice-a-week flight by the sister carrier of SriLankan Airlines will connect the cities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The first Mihin Lanka flight landed in Kolkata on Wednesday with 67 passengers at 2.05pm, while the flight departed from the city with 107 passengers at 3.20pm, the Times of India report said.

While the island country's national carrier SriLankan Airlines flies to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Trichi, Trivandrum and Kochi, Mihin Lanka flies to Indian towns such as Madurai, Varanasi and Gaya.

Inaugurating the Mihin Lanka flight between Kolkata and Colombo on Wednesday, the airline officials announced an introductory one-way fare of Rs 10,530 for passengers. However, online air-ticketing portal Goibibo is offering a return fare of Rs 15,081.

The aircraft serving on this route will be Airbus A319 and A321 with the configuration of both business and economy classes.
(With inputs from Times of India)