News
Direct flights from Jaffna expected to cut travel costs
View(s):Cheaper air ticket prices and reduced transport cost to reach the Colombo airport are set to boost air services between Palaly in Jaffna to Chennai in India.
The service is to be converted into daily flights from August 15 with a return air ticket costing Rs 53,700 in contrast to Rs 85,000 from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
At Palaly airport
Manager of the Palaly Airport Aruna Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times that the current four flights a week will be expanded with increased demand.
The passenger service launched recently is picking up. One main reason is the reduced transport time by road from Jaffna to Katunayake and the high cost of hiring a vehicle. In addition, saving of time, too, has been a plus point for passengers to choose to fly from Palaly.
Residents in Jaffna making use of the facility said that it costs nearly Rs 200,000 for a ride to the BIA.
Mrs. S. Gunarajah
Now officially known as the ‘Jaffna International Airport’ was built during World War II and was used by the Royal Air Force. In the ’60s it took only 45 minutes for a flight from Chennai to Jaffna. But, with the conflict in the North the operations were suspended. Civil domestic flights began in 1990.
In 2009, with the termination of the civil war there was a request to start international flights from Jaffna, but only in 2019 it was developed as an international airport.
Among the air traffic that is expected, are flights that bring in pilgrims.
Nearly 600,000 visitors come to Hindu temples annually from India as well as the diaspora from Canada and elsewhere.
Aruna Rajapaksa
Chief priest of the Threekeswaram Kovil Ramakrisnan said tens of thousands come for two festivals.
Shanmugaraja Kajanappan a traveller at the Jaffna airport said that they had relations in India and they were on tour. “It is very costly to come to Colombo to travel to India. Developing the Jaffna airport is a tremendous service to the people of the East also.’’
He said it costs around Rs 80,000 for a private van to go to Katunayake, plus hotel charges. “Travelling to Colombo to travel to India is costly. On the return flight we can travel directly to Jaffna.
Chairman Airport and Aviation Services Ltd retired major general G.A. Chandrasiri told the Sunday Times that the Government of India has deployed ATR 72 aircraft and there are bookings until August.
He said jasmine flowers needed for the Hindu festivals are currently transported and the cultural link in the travel connected to Hinduism.
G.A. Chandrasiri
Shanmugaraja Kajanappan
Mrs. S. Gunarajah said that she had come for the temple festival and was going to the UK via India. She said that air travel from Jaffna needs to be expanded to other destinations.
Mrs. Vasantha Selvaraj who comes here from Australia for the festivals in Jaffna said: “If direct flights are available from Jaffna we need not go to India to come here. It is easy to come directly to Jaffna instead of coming via Katunayake, which will reduce the cost and time. If the Jaffna airport is further developed it is convenient for pilgrims to come during the festivals. There should be direct flights from Australia to Jaffna.’’
Pix and text by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
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