While the Mattala International Airport (MIA) is targeting at least 24 flights per week upon commencement in November this year, the national carrier is to invest approximately Rs.150 million to begin its operations at Weerawila.
Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL) Executive Director Johann Jayaratne told the Business Times that they would attempt targeting 24-30 flights per week from "day one" at the new Southern Mattala airport in Weerawila. Currently, authorities are in negotiation with three international airlines both regional and Middle Eastern and one of them is a budget carrier, he said. He explained that the three airlines would operate daily amounting to 21 flights and added to the SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka frequencies, it would result in 24-30 flights per week. With operations at the new Southern airport expected to get underway on November 15, Mr. Jayaratne said they were "very confident" of bringing down these carriers from the first day.
Commenting on whether there was a demand, he said "any airport faces this common problem" and added that there was a demand. "If you build the route people will follow," Mr. Jayaratne observed. With 37% of the overseas workers generating from the East, the new airport is likely to attract them to patronize Mattala. Promotional campaigns were already underway, which commenced an year back, he explained adding that they would also attend conferences this year and become part of the Sri Lanka Tourism joint marketing campaign expected to kick off by end March or April. The airport is already carrying out its promotional drive by showcasing developments on site to members of the Board of Airline Representatives(BAR) in January.
In the meantime, authorities are also working with local farmers in the area to create awareness of government plans to create a major distribution centre as perishable cargo would be brought down to this location. Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines would be investing approximately Rs.50 million for its catering division, approximately Rs.100 million in engineering that overseas maintenance, repair and overhaul; and manpower for ground handling, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe told the Business Times.
He noted that Mattala would be promoted through travel agents and tour operators by Sri Lanka Tourism. Mr. Wickremesinghe pointed out that depending on the demand and supply conditions they would consider the airline's operations to the Southern airport. The government plans to provide concessions to international carriers that opt to fly into this new destination with 50% discount on parking charges for all airlines for a period of six months.
It is believed that these are carried out with the aim of generating increased interest by airlines and with hopes that operators would "think twice" on flying into Mattala. Construction work at the Mattala airport is costing a total of $209 million of which about 50% has been spent.
Progress of work is currently at 39% of the passenger terminal, 32% of the air traffic control tower, 39% of the terminal building, 50% of the fire building, 35% of the cargo building, 35% of the cargo building, 71% of the water tower and 70% of the runway. The airport runway would be available for testing after September this year following which approvals would be sought from the Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
It is believed that these are carried out with the aim of generating increased interest by airlines and with hopes that operators would "think twice" on flying into Mattala. Construction work at the Mattala airport is costing a total of $209 million of which about 50% has been spent. Progress of work is currently at 39% of the passenger terminal, 32% of the air traffic control tower, 39% of the terminal building, 50% of the fire building, 35% of the cargo building, 35% of the cargo building, 71% of the water tower and 70% of the runway. The airport runway would be available for testing after September this year following which approvals would be sought from the Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
| Mihin touchdown on low cost routes |
With SriLankan Airlines management also part of the budget carrier Mihin Lanka, route planning has become better coordinated, a top official said.
Nishantha Wickremesinghe, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, told the Business Times that they carry out route planning between the two carriers together in order to avoid both flying to the same destination. He noted that Mihin Lanka would be flying to more low cost destinations and in this respect had selected to touchdown at Jakarta, Dhaka, Buddhagaya, Varnasi, Manila and Sharjah. The budget carrier that was previously operating to Kuwait would be pulling out of this route in a bid to allow SriLankan Airlines to fly in and as a result its shift to Sharjah.
Coordination of routes is also carried out whereby Mihin Lanka would fly into Manila that would carry passengers heading for the Middle East via Colombo. And once in Colombo, these passengers would be transported to their destinations on SriLankan Airlines, he explained. In future, SriLankan Airlines would seek to operate increased flights that would ensure that by the end of next year the airline would operate daily flights to all its destinations. Aircraft would also be increased at SriLankan Airlines from the current 22 to 30 in the future that would eventually result in a young fleet replacing the old stock by 2015, Mr. Wickremesinghe said. |
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