For this kind of state visits, probably there is no other option, but remember there was a UL A330 in Caribbean for the failed attempt of Hambantota Commonwealth Games. Also, these state visits are not coming as a surprise, so how come UL end up with cancellations rather than schedule changes few months in advance?

I notice Mihin Lanka's website has slated KUL as one if its destinations. Anyone knows when they are starting this sector or is it merely code sharing basis?

Yes, you are correct. Mihin Lanka doesn't fly to KUL, but code shares with SriLankan Airlines.

Direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu to commence soon

Direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu are to commence soon. President Mahinda Rajapakse discussed the matter extensively when he met the Prime Minister of Nepal yesterday. The meeting took place in parallel to the international environmental summit held at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. According to a decision reached at the discussion, the Mihin Lanka airlines will commence direct flights between Colombo and Kathmandu in the near future.

anyway I also agree with Sakith GW. Thr is something we hv to grab frm his commnt. Knowing that it is a failed attempt for Commn Wealth Games in HIA MR-Family went on a trip to Carribean islands with a govrnmnt property. and 06JUN CMB-MXP-FCO flt was cancld withOUT sufficient prior notice and I had to inform my valued pax immediately. This is a misuse of Govrnmnt properties...

Great news MASkargo is once again resuming services out of CMB! MH freighter flight is now scheduled to operate every Fridays, CMB-landing at 20:30 and take off at 22:30. Route: KUL-MAA-CMB-KUL. It seems MH is replacing MAA-CMB cargo-route which was previously operated by Etihad. Very sad Colombo does not receive many Frieghter flights, these days. Where all the freight airlines like LH, RJ, EK, SV, SQ, KE, CI, EY .. are gone ??? :-(

RJ cargo planning to restart

Finally it's happening; Long-awaited flight to Lanka may commence in September



Mihin Lanka will connect Colombo to Madurai soon, Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne assures Travel Club.

The long wait of southern residents and trade bodies in the region for international connectivity to Madurai Airport, which boasts of a new Rs.130-crore integrated terminal, is about to end soon as the Sri Lankan national carrier Mihin Lanka is likely to commence operations from Colombo to Madurai in September.

Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne assured a delegation from the Travel Club that the low cost carrier was likely to launch its operations in the coming winter season, G. Vasudevan, past president of the Travel Club, told The Hindu here on Friday.

The assurance came at the end of a meeting with a Travel Club delegation led by current president B. S. G. Musthafa on Wednesday during which the members gave a detailed presentation on the market potential for Madurai-Colombo flight from the nine southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

The delegation also met the senior officials of Mihin Lanka including its Head of Operations Rohana Perera who informed them that the carrier was in the final stages of commencing operations to Madurai.

^^ If at all they wish to connect, do they have flights to do that? Because, Madurai is known for bad luck as far as aviation is concerned (more particularly the International flight).

As somebody said, they could shift Mihin operations from TRZ to IXM and increase UL's frequency there for compensating the curtailment. But, we just are looking forward for the first flight (be it 3 times a week or 4 times a week whatever to prove the real potential).

I sincerely hope they don't state aircraft shortage as the reason if they delay the flight to Madurai beyond winter schedule's start.

Mihin is a deadweight admits SriLankan boss - Interview : http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_...de_title=55130

Part of the interview extract below :

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On the other hand Mihin has to stay true to its proposition. For instance Mihin will stop flying to Trichy soon and will fly to Sharjah and Madurai. Sri Lankan will continue to fly to Dubai.
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^^ Thanks Banuthev. Have you planned to visit Madurai in July? I recommend you to add Madurai airport (Madurai is well connected to Chennai by around 8 flights per day, so it is recommended to come to Madurai via Chennai in any of the flights) also to your visiting places when you visit Madurai. Have a look and write a review of the facilities in a existing thread or a new thread in AirSrilanka forum if possible.

I have plans to visit Madurai in August if direct flight start between IXM-CMB by that time. Do you know when Spicejet will open the flight booking for IXM-CMB ?

Mihin Lanka, has made profits of 2.0 billion rupees before tax, on revenues of 4,576 million rupees in the nine months to December 2011 according to a finance ministry report. The carrier is expected to acquire a third aircraft in the first quarter of 2013, the report said.......... http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/f...nid=1159284226