TRIVANDRUM, 24 October 2003 — Air Sahara yesterday became the first private Indian airline to go international after it announced flights to Colombo with convenient connections from all major Indian metros and Buddhist centers.

The federal government earlier this week decided to allow private domestic airlines to go international, initially to Sri Lanka.

Air Sahara will provide daily connections to and from Colombo to New Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Madras, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Goa and its entire Buddhist touch points of Samath (Varanasi), Bodh Gaya (Patna) and Kushinagar (Gorakhpur).

It will also offer twice a week connecting services to Bodh Gaya, according to a statement issued by the airline.

The Airline plans to offer one flight starting from New Delhi at 7.05 p.m. via Bangalore and return from Colombo at 12.05 a.m. Another flight will leave Bombay at 11.30 a.m. and return from Colombo at 4.p.m.

The flights will start in seven days subject to clearance from both the governments and airport authorities.

Subrata Roy Sahara, Chairman of Sahara India said: “We at Air Sahara believe this is the beginning of a new era in Indian aviation”.

Air Sahara has already been recognized in India and overseas as the country’s fastest growing and most innovative airline.

The airline has set high service standards and offers a completely refreshing experience on the international routes, he said.