Some cancellations as SriLankan Airlines seeks to cut routes
Some tourists visiting Sri Lanka have made immediate cancellations and flight changes following SriLankan Airlines’ announcement to pull out of the European sector barring London. But industry spokesmen were divided on the outcome with some optimistic the “show will go on.” Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Devendra Senaratne told the Business Times on Friday that there was a “definite impact” with some travellers changing their flights and a few bookings getting cancelled. This week the airline said it was pulling out of Paris and Frankfurt with flights ending on November 6 this year though in a February announcement the airline said the Frankfurt sector will continue.
The tourism industry sees SriLankan Airlines moving out of the European sector as a “very big” move since this sector brings in about 58 per cent of the turnover from this key market. After a major marketing drive to push the brand in Europe, about 20 years ago the carrier pulled out of this sector, which led to Emirates moving in. He said that it is possible that in future some of the West Asian airlines might take over this route.
In fact plans at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to close operations due to maintenance for three months next year is also sparking some anxiety as this too had led to cancellations since most of the Arab carriers arrive during this time and there would definitely be an impact, he explained.
In the wake of these developments, Mr. Senaratne noted they have asked tour operators to reschedule flights and fly on carriers that operate at other times. However, despite requests by SLAITO for information from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on details of the airport closure and times no feedback has been received to date. The SLAITO President estimated that at least a 15-20 per cent drop in arrivals is expected based on the airline rescheduling flights and the BIA closure next year. Earlier during the year, SLAITO had met with the SriLankan Airlines management to discuss issues regarding the flights to Europe and to insist on continuing their operations.
However, even at that stage, Mr. Senaratne explained the airline was open about the fact that they were likely to close this sector since it was not viable to the carrier particularly France and Germany. While some operators believe that Britain moving out of Europe is likely to impact tour operators and tourists alike others opine the show would go on all in good time. Britain’s exit from Europe will hurt the local tour operators who would lose based on six month contracts as they would be compelled to stick to the prices agreed upon. Moreover, new bookings would find the costs going up as most would not prefer travelling long haul except for the FIT market, Mr. Senaratne said.
Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Hiran Cooray commenting on the SriLankan Airlines pull out of Europe said that from a hospitality point of view “they are going to give away the business to other competitors and are moving out at a wrong time since the French and Germans don’t have a place to travel to and Sri Lanka is a sought after destinations.” He noted that the industry was likely to be impacted but some other carriers might take over and it is always better to fly direct to a destination than stopping in West Asia. Sounding more optimistic Mr. Cooray noted that Britain’s exit from Europe, however was “very unlikely” to impact on Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals since it is expected to have a “bit of a shake up until they sort things out” but after that “the show will go on.”