Aviation & Airports

[Amal]

Interesting... one world vs star alliance...

[saraprobe]

[Amal]

Daily flights commence between Sri Lanka and China

Tuesday, 12 June 2012 17:55

Chairman of the Sri Lankan Airlines Nishantha Wickremasinghe says daily flights between Sri Lanka and China will commence from the 15th of this month. Currently, Sri Lankan aviation services are been conducted via Bangkok thrice a week. Participating at a press briefing in Beijing Mr. Wickremasinghe said that, direct flights between two countries will be commenced from next Friday.

http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/compone...nka-and-china-

[mrpanini]

Colombo airport VIP lounge

[mrpanini]

Colombo Airport VIP exit/entrance

https://plus.google.com/photos/11473...409?banner=pwa

[mrpanini]

[mrpanini]

[Amal]

Sri Lanka airport gets Emirates premium lounge


Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Emirates Airline President Tim Clark, UAE Ambassador Mahmood Mohammed Al-Mahmood, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratna officiate at the opening of Emirates dedicated lounge at Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday – Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera

June 16, 2012 (LBO) – Dubai’s Emirates Airlines opened a new 200 million rupee premium lounge at Sri Lanka’s main airport, catering to scores of wealthy travellers who use Colombo as a transit hub or as a growing upmarket tourist destination, officials said.

"The Emirates Lounge reflects our optimism on the prospects for growth in post-war Sri Lanka," Emirates President, Tim Clark said during the official opening on Friday.

Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport now joins 27 other similar airport lounges in key cities, that work round-the-clock to pamper passengers from travel weariness or embarking on long haul flights.

The Indian Ocean Island is experiencing a surge in tourists since government forces ended a decades long conflict with ethnic Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009. The United Nations estimated some 100,000 people perished during the 37-year conflict.

Sri Lanka Tourism this week noted a 18.2 percent growth of 387,622 visitors for the five months to May, over the same period in 2011. Neighbouring India, continued to dominate tourism arrivals, followed by traditional markets of the UK and Germany.

In 2011, the Indian Ocean Island welcomed a record 855,975 visitors and earned 830.3 million dollars from the trade, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka figures.

The tourism authority hopes to attract about a million visitors this year, and tips earnings to hit about one billion dollars.

International hotel chains like the Sheraton and Shangri-La have signed up to build hotels in key locations, while the government takes the initiative to develop tourism-related infrastructure.
Clark said upgrading Sri Lanka’s tourism product helps to attract more affluent segments.

"The MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traffic is also increasing and the country is attracting the attention of investors from many parts of the world," he said.

Emirates began services to Sri Lanka in April 1986, with Colombo becoming the fourth destination for the network. In 1988, the airline acquired a stake and took management control of state-run SriLankan Airlines for 10-years.

The airline now flies to 123 destinations, linking Sri Lanka to 72 countries on six continents. Emirates currently operates28 flights a week from Colombo, 14 direct to Dubai, seven via Male to Dubai and daily flights to Singapore.

It offers first, business and economy class services to and from Colombo.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/f...nid=2048554690

================================

Emirates Lounge at BIA accorded high-profile opening

Published : 1:17 am June 16, 2012

A pledge of continued support to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry through award-winning air services was one of the highlights of the high profile formal opening of The Emirates Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake yesterday.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates airline and Mohammed Mattar, Divisional Senior Vice President Airport Services joined Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratna, Mahmood Mohammed Al-Mahmood, the UAE Ambassador and senior aviation sector officials to open the facility, the first to be set up at the BIA by an international airline.

Speaking at the event, Clark said the investment by Emirates of Rs. 200 million in this premium lounge is a further value addition to the airline’s offering in Colombo, as well as to the facilities at the BIA. “Emirates is happy to make this investment, which also reflects our optimism about the prospects for growth in post-conflict Sri Lanka,” he said. “I understand that more international hotel chains are building in Sri Lanka and that the tourism infrastructure is being upgraded. Sri Lanka will therefore progressively attract tourists from the more affluent segments. MICE traffic is also increasing, and the country is attracting the attention of investors from many parts of the world.”

“These developments are of particular relevance to Emirates, which is one of the most active international carriers serving this country,” Clark said. “We look forward to continuing to play a significant role in the growth of Sri Lanka, a country we have served with award-winning air services for 26 years.”

FULL STORY: http://www.ft.lk/2012/06/16/emirates...ofile-opening/

[Amal]

Sri Lanka state airline to double flights to China from July

June 15, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's state-run SriLankan Airlines, is doubling flights to main Chinese cities by July and is eyeing more secondary destinations to capitalize on growing links with the Asian powerhouse, an official said.

Sri Lanka's national flag carrier currently flies over 10 times a week to China, from about three flights a week when it first began flying to Beijing.

"By mid-July this year, we hope to fly seven times a week to Beijing, seven times to Shanghai, four times to Guangzhou and thrice to Hong Kong, taking it to 21 flights per week," SriLankan’s chief marketing officer, G T Jeyaseelan told reporters on Friday.

"We see China as a huge potential area for development

"For Sri Lanka, China is important politically and economic-wise. We are also studying the secondary market in China. We eventually want to go non-stop to China," he said.

SriLankan now flies to Chinese destinations via Bangkok, carrying traffic both to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. China is becoming a major outbound market with a strong currency that is appreciating against the US dollar rapidly boosting the wealth of its people.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/f...?nid=642066637

[banuthev]

Air Sri Lanka Forum upgrades it's Sri Lanka Flight Information Website - www.airsrilanka.org

just take a look !

[IMG]http://oi50.************/vzva1d.jpg[/IMG]

[Amal]

Colombo clearance for helicopters

Deccan Aviation announces setup of helipads as govt. relaxes long-standing security restrictions

June 19, 2012, 8:33 pm

The government has finally granted approval for private helicopter operators to conduct flights into the city of Colombo.

With tight security imposed on the capital city during the war, helicopter flights into Colombo was strictly limited to those operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force. The recent relaxation of the rules is seen as an effort to ensure a level playing field between the commercial arm of the SLAF and other helicopter operators.

Domestic airline and helicopter operator Deccan Aviation was first to formally announce the establishment of the first privately run city helipad at the Colts Cricket Grounds on Havelock Road, following the relaxation on stringent security restrictions on civil flights over the capital city.

The Civil Aviation Authority in consultation with the Ministry of Defense has earmarked eight locations around the city that may be suitable to establish helipads.

"The opening of Colombo city to private helicopters is excellent news. We have been in the forefront of the industry from its earliest days and have lobbied intensely for this to happen. Over the past few months we have conducted extensive research and have selected the Colts Grounds as our preferred city helipad. Not only is the location very convenient for our city based clients, the Colts grounds also exceeds the stringent safety standards required to operate in urban environments. We thank the Colts Club and their membership for entering into a mutually beneficial agreement with us for the use of their excellent facilities. Innovation is what we do best, and we are happy that we can now offer our valued guests a departure or arrival right into the heart of the great city of Colombo", said the company in a brief statement.

"This is exactly what our clients have been asking for," said Suren Mirchandani, industry pioneer and Deccan Vice Chairman. "While we have developed over 300 helipads throughout the island, this was the one we are most excited about. Our thanks should go out to those in authority who made this decision"

Under previous regulations, private helicopters could not operate to within 10 miles of the city centre, with passengers having to depart from the Ratmalana airport.

On the sidelines of the signing of the MOU for the city helipad, Deccan’s Suren Mirchandani also elaborated on expansion plans of the airline.

"We can confirm that we are adding an amphibian aircraft to our fleet within a few months, making us the only operator in the country to offer all 3 air options, helicopter, aircraft and amphibians with an unprecedented reach throughout the island. The addition of the Cessna 206 means that we be maintaining and/or operating a total of 6 aircraft, including those on behalf of private corporate owners, a testament to the capabilities of the Deccan team and the confidence placed in us by our clients."

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_...de_title=54832

[Amal]

Sri Lanka's budget carrier Mihin Lanka loses over US$ 18 million last year

Sat, Jun 23, 2012, 09:40 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Jun 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's budget airline ended in red again last year with the losses amounting to US$ 18.6 million, a government report showed.

The annual report of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the year 2011 presented in the parliament on Friday said Mihin Lanka's performance was affected due to the steep increase in fuel prices by 30 percent.

The Ministry report said Mihin Lanka, however, could not increase air fares to set off the increase in fuel costs as it had to maintain its competitiveness with several other low cost carriers operating to the same destinations.

"In these circumstances, Mihin Lanka has endeavoured to continue provide affordable air travel by reduce costs in all other areas of operations with a view to minimizing its losses," the report noted.

The budget airline operated 1443 flights in 2011 while maintaining load factors of 75% on its flights as opposed to 868 flights operated in 2010.

In 2011 Mihin operated to 9 destinations with 27 flights per week to Kuwait, Dubai and Sharjah in the Middle East, Bodhgaya and Varanasi in India, Maldives, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...40467825CH.php

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by Amal

Sri Lanka's budget carrier Mihin Lanka loses over US$ 18 million last year

Sigh

When can we get rid of this crap?? Big shot doesn't even use it...

[EshE]

Sri Lanka’s second international airport at Mattala in Hambantota is likely to delay its opening until a new date is fixed, an official said.
“We might push it to this year or next year in December or January (2013),” Airport and Aviation Services Ltd (AASL)� Chairman Prasanna Wickramasooriya told the Business Times on Wednesday.

Authorities had previously indicated that the opening of the new airport was scheduled for November this year.
While construction of stage one is expected to conclude by the end of this year, he said no opening date was finalized yet.
On the other hand the contract for the construction work on the first stage of the project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013, he said.

In this respect, Mr. Wickramasooriya observed that the airport would be ready by January, and trials would also be carried out.
“The President wants us to complete the work properly,” and so they are not in a hurry, the AASL Chairman pointed out.
Responding to queries of international airlines flying into Mattala, the airport’s chief said three airlines have agreed to fly into the new airport upon its opening apart – national carrier SriLankan Airlines and budget carrier Mihin Lanka. But he declinedto give out any names at this stage. However recent reports said budget carrier Flydubai has also agreed to use the airport.

He said Emirates Airlines had also expressed interest as “they have identified the potential there.” This came following their recent meeting at the opening of the new Emirates lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Ground handling, landing and parking fees would initially be provided via an attractive package for a period of six months, he said.
Authorities increased the workforce at the Mattala airport project last year in a bid to speed up work from 1200 to 1500 with most picked from the locality. Installations of escalators and lifts have already been carried out at the new airport that would be subjected to tests, Airport and Aviation Services Senior Civil Engineer Mr. Lalith Warusavitharana told the Business Times.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120624/bus...ning-3859.html

[lordvader]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

Sigh

When can we get rid of this crap?? Big shot doesn't even use it...

Good interview with UL's Chairman (also now Mihin's chairman) here:
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_...de_title=55130

[Amal]

Originally Posted by lordvader

Good interview with UL's Chairman (also now Mihin's chairman) here:
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_...de_title=55130

Interesting interview... I really hope Mihin and SriLankan can work synergistically. They both really need to pull up their socks.

[EshE]

*Capacity to handle 12 mn passengers in 2015
* Arrivals and departures on two floors with rail links
* Mattala with 1 mn capacity to be link to expatriate workers, tourists, luxury yachts, aviation repair hub

By Ravi Ladduwahetty

The government will call for tenders this week for the construction of the ambitious JICA- funded 29 billion Yen, US$ 350 million (Rs. 4.7 billion) Second Phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport, seeking to double passenger handling capacity to 12 million per annum by 2015.

"We have sent all the documentation to the Ministry of Aviation, which will seek the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the civil works after which we will be advertising for contractors his week," Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd Chairman Colonel Prasanna Wickremasuriya told The Island Financial Review yesterday.

The contractor will have to be Japanese according to the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan as the donor is the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The loan agreement was signed in Colombo on March 28 by Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office Akira Shimura and Secretary- Ministry of Finance and Planning Dr. P. B. Jayasundera.

The ambitious BIA expansion comes in the wake of the BIA reaching saturation point with its handling 6 million passengers end last year and also in consonance with the government’s plans of procuring 2.5 million arrivals target by 2016. Transit passengers have also increased by 27% for 2011 over 2010.

The brand new terminal building which will be housed on two floors will have the departure lounge on the upper floor and the arrivals lounge on the ground floor. Both will have rail links with international standards which will enable the smooth arrivals and departures for passengers to and from Colombo, Wickremasuriya said.

However, there will not be any enhancements to the cargo handling facilities at the BIA which prevail now.

Meanwhile, the civil works to the Mattala airport which will be completed end 2012, will also see that airport handling up to a million passengers when completed.

There will be the usual airlines which will also fly there and some of the principal advantages that will accrue from that airport will be a boon for Sri Lanka’s expatriate workers in the Gulf numbering 37% who hail from the Southern and Eastern provinces who can directly fly from and to Mattala, the AASL Chief said.

The Mattala airport will also serve as a catalyst for the tourism industry where Yala is a mere 20 minutes, Arugam Bay, a mere three and a half hours and Nuwara Eliya , two and a half hours on the Ella- Wellawaya Road. Moot in this context is that the Yala national park had over 100,000 arrivals last year.

The southern airport will be a further boon to the tourism industry where tourists who arrive there will also have links to cruise ships and such synergies were being worked out now, he said.

AASL is also talking to major worldwide airlines to entice them to have repair hubs in the Hambantota tax free zone where the Mattala airport would also be a link. German carrier Lufthansa will be the first, he remarked.

-The Island.lk-

[Amal]

Originally Posted by Amal

Sri Lanka's budget carrier Mihin Lanka loses over US$ 18 million last year

Sat, Jun 23, 2012, 09:40 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Jun 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's budget airline ended in red again last year with the losses amounting to US$ 18.6 million, a government report showed.

The annual report of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the year 2011 presented in the parliament on Friday said Mihin Lanka's performance was affected due to the steep increase in fuel prices by 30 percent.

The Ministry report said Mihin Lanka, however, could not increase air fares to set off the increase in fuel costs as it had to maintain its competitiveness with several other low cost carriers operating to the same destinations.

"In these circumstances, Mihin Lanka has endeavoured to continue provide affordable air travel by reduce costs in all other areas of operations with a view to minimizing its losses," the report noted.

The budget airline operated 1443 flights in 2011 while maintaining load factors of 75% on its flights as opposed to 868 flights operated in 2010.

In 2011 Mihin operated to 9 destinations with 27 flights per week to Kuwait, Dubai and Sharjah in the Middle East, Bodhgaya and Varanasi in India, Maldives, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...40467825CH.php

So anyone know what the deal is with this? Two contradicting reports:


Sri Lanka state budget carrier shows fat margins

June 25, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's state-run budget carrier Mihin Lanka, has made profits of 2.0 billion rupees before tax, on revenues of 4,576 million rupees in the nine months to December 2011 according to a finance ministry report.

The firm had seen negligible finance charges of around 51 million rupees in the period. The profits before interest indicate remarkable gross margins of around 40 percent.

In the year to March 2011 the firm had lost 940 million rupees on revenues of 3.14 billion rupees, down from 1.2 billion a year earlier. Costs were cut by changing 'wet leases' of its aircraft to 'dry leases', a report by the finance ministry said.

The turnaround has come in the next nine months with just an 18 percent increase in passengers carried to 266,292 and cargo rising to 1,290 tonnes from 959 tonnes.

The performance is even more remarkable since the airline only operates only two aircraft to seven destinations. The carrier is expected to acquire a third aircraft in the first quarter of 2012, the report said.

Its sister carrier, SriLankan which operates over 20 aircraft had meanwhile lost 15.56 billion rupees before interest in the 9 months to December. Interest charges were 741 million rupees.

Mihin Lanka's long term liabilities fell to 414 million rupees by December from 2,802 million in March but its long term liabilities rose to 4.39 billion rupees from 2.23 billion rupees.

It had negative net assets of 3.2 billion rupees down from 3.8 billion in March.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/f...nid=1159284226

[saraprobe]

Originally Posted by EshE

*Capacity to handle 12 mn passengers in 2015
* Arrivals and departures on two floors with rail links
* Mattala with 1 mn capacity to be link to expatriate workers, tourists, luxury yachts, aviation repair hub

By Ravi Ladduwahetty

The government will call for tenders this week for the construction of the ambitious JICA- funded 29 billion Yen, US$ 350 million (Rs. 4.7 billion) Second Phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport, seeking to double passenger handling capacity to 12 million per annum by 2015.

"We have sent all the documentation to the Ministry of Aviation, which will seek the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the civil works after which we will be advertising for contractors his week," Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd Chairman Colonel Prasanna Wickremasuriya told The Island Financial Review yesterday.

The contractor will have to be Japanese according to the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan as the donor is the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The loan agreement was signed in Colombo on March 28 by Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office Akira Shimura and Secretary- Ministry of Finance and Planning Dr. P. B. Jayasundera.

The ambitious BIA expansion comes in the wake of the BIA reaching saturation point with its handling 6 million passengers end last year and also in consonance with the government’s plans of procuring 2.5 million arrivals target by 2016. Transit passengers have also increased by 27% for 2011 over 2010.

The brand new terminal building which will be housed on two floors will have the departure lounge on the upper floor and the arrivals lounge on the ground floor. Both will have rail links with international standards which will enable the smooth arrivals and departures for passengers to and from Colombo, Wickremasuriya said.

However, there will not be any enhancements to the cargo handling facilities at the BIA which prevail now.

Meanwhile, the civil works to the Mattala airport which will be completed end 2012, will also see that airport handling up to a million passengers when completed.

There will be the usual airlines which will also fly there and some of the principal advantages that will accrue from that airport will be a boon for Sri Lanka’s expatriate workers in the Gulf numbering 37% who hail from the Southern and Eastern provinces who can directly fly from and to Mattala, the AASL Chief said.

The Mattala airport will also serve as a catalyst for the tourism industry where Yala is a mere 20 minutes, Arugam Bay, a mere three and a half hours and Nuwara Eliya , two and a half hours on the Ella- Wellawaya Road. Moot in this context is that the Yala national park had over 100,000 arrivals last year.

The southern airport will be a further boon to the tourism industry where tourists who arrive there will also have links to cruise ships and such synergies were being worked out now, he said.

AASL is also talking to major worldwide airlines to entice them to have repair hubs in the Hambantota tax free zone where the Mattala airport would also be a link. German carrier Lufthansa will be the first, he remarked.

-The Island.lk-

Wots that ?

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by saraprobe

Wots that ?

Answer is here:

"The brand new terminal building which will be housed on two floors will have the departure lounge on the upper floor and the arrivals lounge on the ground floor. Both will have rail links with international standards which will enable the smooth arrivals and departures for passengers to and from Colombo, Wickremasuriya said.
"


Departures will be on the upper level -with a rail link to Colombo

Arrivals will be on the lower level -with a seperate rail link to Colombo

Think it would be easier for this rail link to be a seperate area entirely, where both departing and arriving passengers mix, rather than two seperate lines.