Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air is to re-open flights to the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, and is also to start services to the Yemeni city of Aden.

The carrier says it will operate five-times weekly to Colombo from 5 October, using Airbus A320 aircraft, restoring a link last flown five years ago.

Bahrain-based Gulf Air is also to serve Aden four times per week with Airbus A319s. It will conduct the operation via the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, from 22 September.

Gulf Air chief Samer Majali says the new routes are part of the airline's strategy of expanding its network into "niche and under-served markets" and creating "potentially high-yield city-pairs".

He adds that the airline is intending to disclose more new destinations in the Middle East, and beyond, in the next few weeks.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news