The Hindu Business Line : SriLankan to increase flights to India

INDIA figures prominently in the new business plan being drawn up by the national airline of Sri Lanka, SriLankan, the airline Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Hill, has said.

"We would like to increase flights to the existing destinations and also to new destinations here. We plan to operate 100-150 weekly flights to India in the next five years. India has been our largest growth market for the past few years," the airline CEO told Business Line.

Currently, the airline operates 85 weekly flights to 10 destinations here and is keen to operate to several cities here including Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

A clearer picture on the airline's plans for India is likely to emerge by the first quarter of next year after talks conclude between the new Sri Lankan Government and SriLankan on extending the management contract beyond 2008.

The airline was privatised in April 1998, when the Sri Lankan Government sold a 40 per cent stake to the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which was also contracted to manage the company for a period of 10 years.

Currently, the Sri Lankan Government retains the majority shareholding, while Emirates has increased its stake to 43 per cent.

The new business plan will see SriLankan add not only aircraft but also increase the number of points that the airline operates to globally. However, the paucity of aircraft and high loads being reported on the currently operated flights will not allow the airline to take full advantage of the ongoing open sky policy announced by the Indian authorities.

"We will mount some extra flights to India. However, I do not think the airline will be able to take much advantage of the open sky policy that has been announced by the Indian authorities," Mr Hill said.

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