The Hindu Business Line : SriLankan Airlines mulls Kochi-Maldives flight

SRILANKAN Airlines is exploring the possibility of introducing a flight linking Kochi-Maldives-Colombo. If everything goes well, the flight will become operational by next winter, said Mr Mohammed Fazeel, SriLankan Airlines Regional Manager for Asia Pacific.

This will be the first SriLankan flight from India to a third country, before landing in Colombo. Similar flights to third-country destinations will be contemplated only after evaluating the success of the Kochi-Maldives-Colombo sector, said Mr Fazeel who was here to participate in the Kerala Travel Mart.

The move is expected to tap the foreign tourist traffic to Kerala, since a large number of tourists coming to the State would then proceed on to Maldives and the reverse trip is expected to attract a large number of tourists from Maldives to Kerala's shores.

Currently, the Airlines is offering a free holiday for every two tickets purchased in the Kochi-Colombo sector. The limited period purchase offer will remain valid till October 6, and the travel period extends till December 1, said Mr Lakshman Weerasooriya, Manager for Kerala.

The economy class return ticket would add up to Rs 8,600 per person, but the two-people package would include a three-days-two-nights holiday package, offering free bed and breakfast at a three star hotel and airport transfers. The current six-flights a week from Kochi will be increased to seven-flights a week from October 31.

The Airlines is also promoting Kerala in a big way as a tourist destination. It is bringing in 60 delegates to the Kerala Travel Mart, mainly travel and tour operators from Europe and the US to explore the tourism potential of the region.

On its 25th anniversary, the Airlines is also planning to bring in more tourists from the island nation to India in general and to Kerala in particular. It has brought out the Great Indian Holiday package for resident Sri Lankans to visit Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore or Chennai.

The package offers a three-days-two-nights with bread and breakfast as well as airport transfers. "Shopping for sarees has become a craze among Sri Lankans visiting Chennai, Bangalore or Kochi," Mr Fazeel said.

There is aspecial Velankanni package of three-days-two-nights to Trichy. All these packages come at a cost of Sri Lankan Rs 15,000. Anadditional health package tour to Bangalore, costing Sri Lankan Rs 19,000, is also available.

The reverse tourism flow, from Kerala to Colombo, has also been on the upsurge.