When I check on the Aeroflot online booking section, I have seen Colombo has been listed in one of the drop down menu. Does this mean Aeroflot is planning to make a come back to Colombo. Aeroflot was the first airline to resume schedule flights to Sri Lanka after end of our civil war. Unfortunatelty they cancelled the service later on due to a lower passenger demand. People who got GDS access please do check if you can find a Aeroflot's Colombo Schedules in Summer 2013 or Winter 2013. Waiting for your update?
SriLankan Airlines to increase frequency of flights to Muscat
To celebrate 30 years of operations in Oman, SriLankan Airlines announced that it is increasing flight frequency between Muscat and Colombo weekly by two, taking the total number of flights to six per week.
The fifth flight was added to the weekly schedule on April 5, and the sixth is to be launched on June 18. The airline operated four flights a week before April 5 – on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The fifth flight will fly on Fridays and the sixth on Tuesdays.
Mihin Lanka, which operates four flights every week from Trichy to Colombo, has decided to stop operations from June 1. S K Mittal, executive director of Translaka, the Chennai-based general sales agency (GSA) for the airline, said the falling tourist traffic between Colombo and Trichy had forced the decision. "We have taken a decision to ground the four flights to Colombo because of lack of patronage on this sector," said Mittal.
Mihin Lanka, which operates four flights every week from Trichy to Colombo, has decided to stop operations from June 1. S K Mittal, executive director of Translaka, the Chennai-based general sales agency (GSA) for the airline, said the falling tourist traffic between Colombo and Trichy had forced the decision. "We have taken a decision to ground the four flights to Colombo because of lack of patronage on this sector," said Mittal.
When I check on the Aeroflot online booking section, I have seen Colombo has been listed in one of the drop down menu. Does this mean Aeroflot is planning to make a come back to Colombo. Aeroflot was the first airline to resume schedule flights to Sri Lanka after end of our civil war. Unfortunatelty they cancelled the service later on due to lower passenger demand. People who got GDS access please do check if you can find a Aeroflot's Colombo Schedules in Summer 2013 or Winter 2013. Waiting for your update?
"State-run Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka, a budget carrier had continued to hemorrhage cash losing 21.5 billion rupees in 2012, with losses since ending Emirates management totaling 58.7 billion rupees, official data shows."
Supporters will say the country's energy utilities (CEB and CPC) lost LKR 150B during the same time, but that is a necessary evil to run the country, whereas these two white elephants are NOT!
"Despite the dismal financial performance of the two state-owned carriers, the civil aviation sector recorded a positive growth as Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) handled 7 million passengers (including transit passengers) during 2012, recording a 15 percent increase Year-on-Year (YoY).
Also, the total number of passenger aircraft movements handled by the BIA increased to 48,416 aircrafts, indicating a YoY growth of 11 percent."
This clearly shows that the problem is not with the airport or the aviation industry in the country, but the state airlines which are sucking the country dry of tax Rupees. Fold them and other airlines will pick up the slack. UL could still make billions with their catering and ground handling.
"Despite the dismal financial performance of the two state-owned carriers, the civil aviation sector recorded a positive growth as Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) handled 7 million passengers (including transit passengers) during 2012, recording a 15 percent increase Year-on-Year (YoY).
Also, the total number of passenger aircraft movements handled by the BIA increased to 48,416 aircrafts, indicating a YoY growth of 11 percent."
This clearly shows that the problem is not with the airport or the aviation industry in the country, but the state airlines which are sucking the country dry of tax Rupees. Fold them and other airlines will pick up the slack. UL could still make billions with their catering and ground handling.
You say "fold them" aha there is a novel concept ; then it would be problem for the HRH and his 100+ freeloaders when they want to go somewhere; Plus you need to have something to do stopover by his pet project.
Jokes aside these losses are going to get worse; with that stopover.
You say "fold them" aha there is a novel concept ; then it would be problem for the HRH and his 100+ freeloaders when they want to go somewhere; Plus you need to have something to do stopover by his pet project.
Jokes aside these losses are going to get worse; with that stopover.
Actually it would be a lot cheaper for the taxpayer if the ruler gets his private A343 (as he seems to prefer that over the A332) for his personal use and liquidate the two state carriers. He is the head of the state and deserves to have his own ride. People will scream initially, but then they will get used to it. I am pretty sure it will not cost LKR 21.5B a year to maintain a A343!
With regards to HRI, there is a strong business case for this venture and if handled properly it will be successful as a logistical hub, if not as a passenger transport hub. We need to be patient.
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