Probe into SriLankan Airlines’ high-flying act
The Civil Aviation Ministry has begun a probe into recent arbitrary travel schedules at SriLankan Airlines allegedly due to top level management decisions and called for an explanation from the national carrier on these issues.
Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Dr. Ravindra Ruberu said in an interview with the Business Times that they have called for explanation from the national airline regarding the airline’s diversion to Singapore and would be requesting another call for explanation regarding the flight that took off without its passengers later that week.
It was exclusively reported in the Sunday Times that the SriLankan Airlines Colombo-bound direct flight from Kuala Lumpur was diverted to Singapore on January 22.
Asked whether an inquiry would be carried out, Dr. Ruberu explained that it depends on the response provided by the national carrier and not based on media reports. However, he noted that if the media reports were proved correct they would think of what to do but fell short of determining as to what that would be. In a second incident, also reported by the Sunday Times, a SriLankan Airlines flight from Colombo to Paris had taken off without waiting for a tour group of some 80 passengers travelling to the French capital to arrive from the Maldives, and take the SriLankan connecting flight.
In this connection, the regulator would be requesting for another clarification on the matter from the national carrier, Dr. Ruberu said adding that this would be done during the course of the week.
A highly indebted SriLankan Airlines is on a five year plan to break-even and is being given financial assistance from the Treasury for this period.
During this time frame the carrier would also be upgrading its fleet with the aim of obtaining at least two aircrafts this year with the first an A330 scheduled for October
In this respect, the airline is looking at replacing its six A340s with six A330 – 300s that would be completed by December 2015.
Dr. Ruberu observed that they were “definitely positive” despite the airline’s heavy losses and the severe competition they were facing from Middle Eastern carriers.
He noted that the national carrier had given them a five year business plan and they were committed to having a strong national airline.
| World War airstrip becomes domestic airport
With a view to increasing accessibility to the Kalpitiya tourism zone, authorities are planning to establish a domestic airport at Palavi in Puttalam. In this respect, the feasibility study has been carried out and a presentation of the report would be made this month, Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Dr. Ravindra Ruberu said. The airport was expected to be completed within two years. He noted that this airstrip had a historical significance due to the fact that it was extensively used during World War II but needed to be re-developed. A Sunday Times report in April 29, 2007, referring to this airstrip, stating that “During days of World War II, the British Royal Navy`s Fleet Air Arm had established a number of land-based air stations in jungle clearings in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon. They were to support air operations against the Japanese in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific theatre of war. One of them was HMS Regolia at Palavi near Puttalam.” Currently, the proposed development is facing a few problems since the cement factory in Puttalam was in line with the runway. This meant that the runway would have to be shifted from its present location and in this regard they would be looking at the technical issues related to this matter, Dr. Ruberu explained. Moreover, by mid June this year the domestic airport at Batticaloa would be opened, he said. Work was suspended on the project from November to January due to bad weather and a review of the designing of the runway. |