Agree with you on that. SriLankan should only focus on Tier 1 Indian cities, leaving the rest to Mihin. Mihin should also look at CIS countries and Tier 2 Chinese cities since they have potential for tourism. Mihin should also ditch the food and baggage allowance (thereby becoming a true LCC). If this measure alone was done its profit would increase dramatically.

Research underway to begin direct flights between Gan and Colombo

Sri Lankan Airlines flights will begin between Colombo and Gan within two months, the company is still conducting feasibility research.

After Emirates saga, no sensible private sector will invest in UL as a minority stake holder
I wonder what is happening with 5 year business plan; if the business plan is good then
it does not need any JV with private sector

A leading German airline is exploring the possibility at investing in the Hambantota International Airport (HIA). The airline is also seeking a working relationship with SriLankan Airlines. An official from Ministry of Civil Aviation told Daily News Business that the German airline is contemplating in setting up a Mechanical Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the HIA.

n addition, two gulf budget carries, flydubai and Air Arabia are likely to have flights landing in HIA while several other major airlines such as Emirates are seriously looking at frequenting HIA.

Chairman SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe said that most of their European flights would land in HIA giving passengers the option to visit the Deep South and the Eastern province and fly back from Colombo.

In addition Mihin Lanka will also operate flights to HIA. It would also provide passengers the opportunity to take internal flights between the two destinations.

Rajapaksa assures MPs of air connectivity

MADURAI: Air connectivity from Madurai to Sri Lanka appears to be materialising as Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured the visiting Tamil MPs about increasing connectivity between the two regions.

Virudhunagar MP Manick Tagore, who shared his experience of the trip to Sri Lanka with media persons here on Sunday, said the Tamil MPs in the parliamentary team insisted that there should be more connectivity between Tamil Nadu and the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka where Tamils lived in large numbers. "After we insisted on connectivity between Tamils living in both countries,

Rajapaksa told us that he had already cleared a proposal to starting air connectivity to Madurai. He added that Sri Lankan Airlines was cancelling a few European operations and would have flights available for connecting Madurai. When we stressed about increased connectivity, he told us that he will go ahead with the flight operations even if they had to incur loss," Tagore said.

The main objective of the committee visit was to inspect rehabilitation works totalling Rs 25,000 crore in Sri Lanka sponsored by the Government of India. "We have also interacted with Tamil leaders in the country who wanted devolution of powers for Tamil provinces.

The committee also met people in IDP camps, which now have 6,500 members. After visiting all the places, there was a detailed discussion where Indian MPs represented these issues. The Sri Lankan side assured us that they will hold elections in the northern province soon after moving all people in IDP camps to their native places. Rajapaksa has given a timeline of June 30 to resettle people in IDP," Tagore said.

The committee had also discussed the increased military presence in the northern province that kept people in fear. The Sri Lankan side is said to have promised the MPs that the armed forces would be withdrawn from civilian areas after elections in the province. "They are a bit upset over India supporting the UN resolution but they understand India's situation.

The Sri Lankan authorities also promised to look into the fishermen attack issue, and will come out with a mechanism wherein fishermen of both countries themselves will resolve their issues," MP said.




^^ Guys, what is going on around? Could somebody here explain?

I have visited the Gan Airport Website and got surprised that Sri Lanka does not operate any cargo flights to GAN any more. http://ganairport.com/. If my memory serve me correctly UL and 8D used to operate twise a week cargo flights to GAN few years back.

Is there any possibility Helitours flights to Gan Airport? with Xian MA60 aircraft.

Sri Lanka South Korea Direct flights expected

BTW, what is happening with Xian MA60's? Are they flying any domestic flights?

http://www.helitours.lk./

SriLankan airlines loses opportunity to operate flights in IXM to CMB route. Now SpiceJet got traffic rights application approved to operate IXM to CMB on 30th March 2012 using a Q400. Below is a response we got for an RTI filed by one of our forumers.



and announced by our Madurai airport M.P Manicka Tagore :

China Eastern Reducing Sri Lanka & Maldives Service in May/June 2012
by JL
Update at 0900GMT 25APR12

China Eastern Airlines from 09MAY12 to 30JUN12 is temporary reducing Kunming – Colombo – Male service, where it’ll operate twice weekly flights instead of 3. Mondays service is cancelled during this period.

Schedule:

MU713 KMG1620 – 1830CMB1930 – 2005MLE 737 36
MU714 MLE2105 – 2245CMB2345 – 0655+1KMG 737 3
MU714 MLE2115 – 2245CMB2345 – 0655+1KMG 737 6

Spicejet and Emirates to codeshare from CMB to DXB.



All the best..

Good for them, passengers from Madurai can connect to Dubai, Male, and Singapore.

Boeing 737-800 better then Q400.