Date:04/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/01/04/stories/2006010402280300.htm

Back SriLankan looking at Jaipur as alternate airport to Delhi

Ashwini Phadnis

New Delhi , Jan. 3

SRILANKAN Airlines is looking at the option of making Jaipur the alternate airport for landing its flights in case the Delhi airport is affected by fog. The airline's Area Manager, Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh, Mr Sharuka Wickrama Adittiya, told Business Line that this was one of the options being examined.

"We are examining the issue of Jaipur being an alternate airport to Delhi. We could also consider carrying people between the two cities by road. However, no firm decision has been taken on this as yet," Mr Adittiya said.

During the winter months, air traffic from and to Delhi airport is affected due to fog. This forces airlines to look at landing at other cities, including Mumbai, which is generally considered a costly affair as it is far from Delhi. The Cabinet recently gave international status to the airport in Jaipur.

The airline is also examining the option of launching regular flights to Pune and Kozhikode. SriLankan is also looking to woo various sections of the market to visit Sri Lanka. Airline officials said that for the upmarket travel segment from India attempts would be made to package Sri Lanka as a a golfing paradise and a place to enjoy the wildlife apart from the sun and beaches. The airline also plans to package the recently-launched airtaxi service that provides the opportunity to travel to any part of Sri Lanka in a short period of time.