Date:26/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/26/stories/2005012612560600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sri Lankan Airlines to boost India flights

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 25. SriLankan Airlines proposes to operate twice daily flights between Tiruchi and Colombo besides enhancing operations to Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The proposals are part of its long-term plans to provide increased capacity of 20 per cent during 2005-06.

G.T. Jeyaseelan, head of Commercial, told a news conference here today that instead of concentrating on the European tourist market, the airline decided to focus on intra-regional tourism especially within the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

"We offer over 10,000 seats as weekly capacity between India and Colombo with the airlines currently operating out of 10 cities in India covering Chennai, Tiruchi, Bangalore, Kochi, Kozhikode, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, New Delhi, Mumbai and Gaya. Ahmedabad will be added to the network shortly."

Pointing out that airlines seating capacity in the Chennai sector alone had been augmented by 75 per cent, he said the airline had grown from a $200-million company to $450 million. Asked whether the airline was looking at any other southern regional point, Mr. Jeyaseelan said that though the airline was eyeing Coimbatore, a decision was yet to be taken.

Mr. Jeyaseelan and Rohan Seneviratne, manager-South India, said that there was no disruption of services to any destinations from India on account of the recent tsunami tragedy.