The Hindu Business Line : Private airlines fly into open skies, land in Colombo to create history

FOR the more than 100 passengers, the Air Sahara S2 541 late on Monday night from Chennai - was a flight with a difference. When the Boeing 737-800 cruised out of the Indian air space, flew over the Palk Strait into Sri Lankan air space, they became the first passengers to fly on a commercial international flight by a private sector domestic airline.

Joining them a few hours later in witnessing this historic step were those who flew to Colombo also from Chennai on the first commercial international flight of the other private sector player - Jet Airways.

After months of discussions and debates often acrimonious on opening the international skies to private players, it will be just about less-than-an-hour-long flight between Chennai and Colombo, which will go down in history as the first step in the open skies policy of the Indian Government.

The arrival of the Air Sahara flight at the Bandaranaike international airport signalled the implementation of a decision taken by the Union Cabinet in January this year allowing the two private sector domestic airlines - Jet Airways and Air Sahara - to start operating regular commercial flights to the six countries forming the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) from India.

The Cabinet nod meant that the airlines could provide flights between India and Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Till January this year the right to fly abroad from India vested with the two state-owned airlines - Air India and Indian Airlines.

While the Cabinet nod for operations to Sri Lanka may have come in January, a joint release issued in October at the conclusion of a three-day visit to India by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, talked about "encouraging" private sector airlines to start operating regular flights to airports in the island nation.

Addressing presspersons on board the inaugural flight, the airline's Chief Executive Officer, Mr U.K. Bose, said that the moment the aircraft crossed into Sri Lankan airspace was a "very very proud moment for the entire Sahara family. This is a flight which will be cherished and remembered by all," Mr Bose said to applause and cheers from the passengers on board.

Both the private sector domestic airlines have already announced that they will offer a daily service from Chennai to Colombo. While the Air Sahara flight will be a night flight, Jet Airways is to operate a day-time flight on this sector.