Practice English with NewsPractice with News
TravelBusiness193 words1 min read

Jetstar Launches New Direct Flight to Sri Lanka

A large jetliner flying through a blue sky
Photo by Haydn on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

Jetstar, an Australian airline, has launched a new direct flight route to Sri Lanka. This is a big step because it is the airline's first direct connection to the country.

The maiden flight is set to arrive tomorrow, marking a special moment for both Jetstar and Sri Lanka's tourism industry. Direct flights make travel much easier for passengers, since they do not need to change planes.

Sri Lanka has been described as one of Asia's coolest destinations right now. Some travel experts have compared it to Bali in the 1980s, before that Indonesian island became a major tourist hotspot.

This comparison suggests that Sri Lanka may still feel less crowded and more authentic than more developed destinations, offering visitors a chance to explore before mass tourism arrives.

With this new route, Australian travelers will find it simpler and possibly faster to reach Sri Lanka. The move is likely to boost interest in the country as a travel destination.

Airlines often add new routes to popular or rising destinations to attract more customers. Jetstar's decision to add Sri Lanka to its network suggests strong confidence in the country's growing appeal to tourists.

Vocabulary10 words

airline
a company that operates planes for passengers
direct flight route
a flight path between two places with no stops
maiden flight
the very first flight on a new route
tourism
the business of people traveling for fun
destinations
places people travel to
authentic
real and not changed to please tourists
network
all the routes and places an airline flies to
appeal
how attractive or interesting something is
hotspot
a very popular place
confidence
strong belief that something will succeed

Quiz

1. What has Jetstar launched?
2. Why is Sri Lanka compared to Bali in the 1980s?
3. True or False: The new route is Jetstar's first direct connection to Sri Lanka.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Jetstar, an Australian _____, has launched a new direct flight route to Sri Lanka.

This is a big step because it is the airline's first direct _____ to the country.

The _____ flight is set to arrive tomorrow.

Direct flights make travel much easier for _____.

Sri Lanka has been described as one of Asia's coolest _____ right now.

Some travel experts have _____ it to Bali in the 1980s.

This comparison suggests that Sri Lanka may still feel less crowded and more _____.

With this new route, Australian travelers will find it simpler to _____ Sri Lanka.

Airlines often add new routes to popular or rising destinations to attract more _____.

Jetstar's decision suggests strong _____ in the country's growing appeal.

Discussion questions

  1. Would you like to visit a destination before it becomes very popular with tourists? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think makes a place feel 'authentic' to travelers?
  3. Do you think direct flights make a big difference when choosing a travel destination? Why?
  4. What are the benefits and downsides of a place becoming a major tourist destination, like Bali did?

More Travel stories