‘Mihin’ to fly again , Plan to work with SriLankan

The Government’s Budget Carrier Mihin Lanka (Pvt. Ltd.), grounded for nearly two months for want of an aircraft, will commence operations in July with an A-320 aircraft obtained on a dry lease from a French Company. The monthly rent would be US $ 347,000, according to the company’s former CEO Sajin de Vas Gunwardena.

Gunwardena resigned as CEO of Mihin Lanka on Thursday but told a news conference at the BMICH that he would continue to serve as a Director.

Asked to comment on the future of the airline, Gunawardena was not optimistic. "No doubt, its an uphill task. We will map out a joint commercial strategy with the national carrier Sri Lankan by pooling our resources and that should make it viable," he said.

Gunawardena said that SriLankan and Mihin Air could exchange passengers on selected destinations that could result in the cabin factor increasing upto between 80 and 90 per cent.

He blamed the Sri Lankan-Emirates joint management for failing to cooperate with Mihin and trying to undermine it. "They were totally opposed to the advent of Mihin. When we asked for two of their aircraft on a wet lease they opposed it," he said.

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http://www.island.lk/2008/05/31/news1.html

SriLankan Airlines unfolds 'Attraction Pack' for travelers

Fly Srilankan Airlines to any South Indian destination and taste the age old tradition of warm hospitality of 'Paradise Island' on board. The Srilankan Airlines, Central Asia's Airline of the Year for four years now, has more attractions for Indian travelers from US major cities.

This was revealed in an Agents Presentation held recently in at Holiday Inn in Skokie, a Chicago suburb.Dillan Ariyawansa, Srilankan Airlines Vice President, Sales & Marketing-USA and Ajith De Alwis, Sales Manager had organized a Srilankan's Midwest Consolidators and Travel Agents meet for the presentation. Ajith inaugurated the event and spoke about Srilankan comforts and facilities offered on board for travelers.

Srilankan operates daily flight from European gateways - London, Frankfurt and Paris to Colombo transferring passengers to South Indian destinations - Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy, Calicut, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. To West India, Srilankan operates flights to Mumbai and Goa, and in North it operates to New Delhi.All Indian destinations are non-stop from Colombo with very convenient connections from European gateways.

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http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/2529/

SriLankan Airlines works harder to lure Indian tourists

SriLankan Airlines has announced it has redoubled its efforts aimed at bringing more tourists to Sri Lanka from India, in support of the country’s tourism industry.

“We are fully focused on our responsibility as the National Carrier to support our own tourism industry, although the airline itself has a thriving business in transit passengers traveling through our hub in Colombo,” SriLankan Airines employee said.

According to the airline, its most recent promotion in India offers discounted fares throughout the month of February for Indian travelers below the age of 27 to enjoy exciting holidays in Sri Lanka, with one condition--travelers must spend a minimum of three days in Sri Lanka.

“In the past, travel advisories in European countries have led to drops in arrivals from some of the island’s traditional tourism markets, although tourists have never been targeted in the country’s conflict,” the airline added.

“The airline has invested heavily in recent years in publicizing Sri Lanka as a destination in India, drawing attention to its value for money shopping, wide range of cuisine, superior hotel and convention facilities, cultural wonders, and diverse climates and landscapes.”

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http://www.eturbonews.com/1792/srilankan-airlines-works-harder-lure-indian-t

Sri Lankan pilots up for grabs by Indian carriers

At least 28 pilots, whose contracts with Sri Lankan Airlines are nearing completion, may be hired by Indian carriers which are facing a shortage of airmen, media reports said here on Wednesday.

After the Dubai-based Emirates pulled out its 43 per cent equity stake from Sri Lankan Airlines, the pilots, whose contracts expire in April, will be available for recruitment by Indian carriers.

As per official statistics, India required 4,540 pilots for airline operations in the country against the availability of 3950 by August 2007, thereby facing a shortfall of 590 airmen who could be recruited from abroad.

"The initial 10-year contract between the two airlines expires in April this year and will not be renewed", the Daily Mirror quoted sources from the Emirates as saying.

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/

CIAL may bag deal to build Sri Lankan airport

The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) - country's first airport built with private-public sector participation - may bag a deal to build a greenfield airport in Sri Lanka, the company said Thursday in a statement here.

A seven-member CIAL delegation, headed by managing director S. Bharath, is at present in the island nation and has held several rounds of talks with government ministers. It has also met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

'On Jan 29, we (the delegation) were taken in a special Sri Lankan Air Force plane to the airport site at Weerawila in southern Sri Lanka for a visit and study,' the statement said.

'The proposed airport site is 15 km away from Hambanota in the southern province of Sri Lanka and around 300 km from Colombo. It is also the political constituency of Rajapaksa.'

Rajapaksa - on a visit to the famous Guruvayoor temple in Kerala two years ago - himself mooted the idea of CIAL building the airport in his country.

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http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080131/27083.htm

Jet, Kingfisher eyeing stake in Sri Lankan Airlines

Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways and Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines are among a host of carriers looking at acquiring a 43.6 per cent stake in Sri Lankan Airlines, aviation industry officials said.

The two carriers will be looking at buying the stake presently held by Emirates Airlines in the Sri Lankan carrier once their 10-year shareholder pact expires April 1, the officials added.

The Sri Lankan government holds 51 percent stake in the carrier, while employees hold the rest.

When contacted, officials at both Jet Airways and Kingfisher declined comment on the matter. "We cannot confirm any development on this," Wolfgang Prock Schauer, chief executive officer of Jet Airways, told media.

"No comment," the Kingfisher spokesperson added.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Jet_Kingfisher_eyeing

SriLankan Airlines brings international media to the country to boost tourism

National carrier, SriLankan Airlines, has arranged for travel journalists from international widespread magazines and newspapers to visit the country during 2007 in order to boost the appeal of the nation as a major tourist destination.

Invited media guests are taken around the island nation to familiarize them with popular areas such as the cities Dambulla and Colombo as well as beach resorts in the south.

“They are invited and brought to Sri Lanka at the airline’s expense, not only to write about the airline, but to provide valuable publicity for the country,” said SriLankan Airlines’ Head of Corporate Communications, Chandana De Silva.

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http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?id=50709&nav=2

Dubai's Emirates Airline ends contract with Sri Lankan Airlines

The Dubai-based Emirates Airline will not renew a 10-year contract to manage Sri Lankan Airlines which expires on March 31, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Monday.

Emirates will pass Sri Lankan Airlines' management control to the government of Sri Lanka, which owns 51 percent of the carrier, in April.

The end of partnership between Emirates and the Sri Lankan government came after a controversy last month when the latter cancelled the work permit of Sri Lankan Airline's CEO Peter Hill after the carrier denied seats to an entourage led by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"Emirates has notified the government of Sri Lanka that it will not be renewing the shareholder's agreement which expires on March 31," said Tim Clark, president of Emirates and managing director of Sri Lankan Airlines.

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http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90858/90863/6333719.html