After connecting Chennai and Colombo, the Kalanithi Maran-promoted SpiceJet would now offer direct flights between Madurai and Colombo beginning next month. "SpiceJet would begin to operate international services from the newly inaugurated Madurai Airport to Colombo from September 20", a company statement said here today.

SpiceJet has received the clearances from the authorities for these additional flights. The airline would be deploying Bombardier Q400 aircraft, which has a capacity to accommodate 78 passengers, on the Madurai-Colombo sector, it said.

"We are glad that SpiceJet would be the first airline to operate regular international services from Madurai. We hope that the direct flight from Madurai to Colombo will be helpful to boost tourism between the two countries," SpiceJet Chief Executive Office Neil Mills said.

Early this month, SpiceJet announced its expansion in the international market with the launch of direct flight connecting New Delhi and Kabul, becoming the sole private Indian carrier to operate services to Afganistan.