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A further codeshare agreement with Sri Lankan Airlines offers Oman Air 's customers the opportunity to book seats on SriLankan Airline's services from Muscat to Singapore, Male, and China via Colombo. In turn, Sri Lankan Airlines' customers are able to book onto Oman Air 's flights from Colombo to Zurich via the Omani Capital of Muscat.
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From Boeing to Airbus
Two Boeing aircrafts had already been ordered at the time of Ranatunga’s appointment and the matter was taken up with the Ministry of Aviation as well as the Treasury.
“We told them that with these two products coming in, it would be difficult to run the organisation in a profitable manner for the next seven to eight years. We gave them a second option in switching to Airbuses which would allow us to achieve our target in three years,” he said.
The Government gave the green light for negotiations to commence with Boeing and at the time the additional cost was around $35 million. The reasons behind the additional costs were, as Ranatunga explained, expenditure on technical knowledge enhancement and training for pilots and cabin crew. The airline would also have to spend on spare parts and accessories for the new aircrafts.
Negotiations with Boeing resulted in Mihin managing to bring down the additional cost to about $5 million but making profits was still not a possibility within the ensuing five years.
After several discussions with the Aviation Ministry, the Treasury and the staff, a decision was taken to switch to three Airbuses instead.
The former Mihin Lanka Chief confirmed that the organisation had ordered two Airbus A320neos and A319 which will arrive in 2016.
Importance of a second carrier
In the debate regarding the necessity for a small nation to maintain a second carrier, Ranatunga made his stance clear by stating that competition for the national carrier should not be dismissed as unnecessary.
Pointing to the understanding between the two organisations, he concluded that both airlines complement each other and have developed a somewhat co-reliant relationship.
Referring to a presentation he had conducted for the new SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias, he added that the fate of Mihin’s success rested squarely on the new SriLankan administration which needed to continue the work done at the organisation and put into implementation the plans that have already been drawn up.
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Hoooraaayy!! SLTPB started discussions with Eurowings and Austrian Airlines to commence Colombo flights in 2016. TUI and Aitken Spence have confirmed weekly charter flights for winter 2016
CHARTER flights from the UK, Netherlands and Scandinavia to Sri Lanka are on the way as TUI and Sri Lanka's Aitken Spence Travels renew old ties.
TUI and Aitken Spence have confirmed weekly charter flights for winter 2016, said Madubhani Perera, director/marketing at Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
These charters are one of more upcoming flights to link Sri Lanka and Europe, as SLTPB yesterday started discussions with Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary, Eurowings, to commence twice-weekly charter flights from Cologne to Colombo in summer 2016, and with Austrian Airlines for scheduled flights between the two countries beginning 1H16.
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Originally posted by banuthev View PostNishantha Ranatunga defends time at Mihin and charts way forward
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Originally posted by janhongladarom View PostI see that 4R-ADA is not active since 4 March. Has its been prepared to be retired?
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Mattala off radar for new airlines
Sri Lanka is unlikely to insist international airlines to fly some of its frequencies to Mattala as the new Sirisena-led administration mulls the southern airport’s future plans.
In the past the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) was part of the air services agreements and the relevant authorities had had to insist that international carriers do fly some of their frequencies from Mattala as well, Civil Aviation Authorty Chairman H.M.C. Nimalsiri said on Wednesday.
He noted that though this was not binding the authorities had to insist that these international carriers fly into Mattala.
However, “we can’t say we stopped airlines coming to Colombo since we did accommodate them there (Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)) as well,” he said.
It was stated that some flights should operate to Mattala as well in the past as part of the air services agreements, Mr. Nimalsiri said.
Under the current setup he asserted it was premature to state how the new air services agreements would be drafted but added “any carrier coming to Colombo is helping in the development of air transport and we are helping in that context”.
On Tuesday, Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga had stated that they were considering conducting Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO) from Mattala based on certain requests received by the government in this regard.
Previously, MRO by German aviation engineering organization, Lufthansa Technik was in discussion with SriLankan Airlines to conduct such a facility at the MRIA however, the talks did not materialize.
Mr. Nimalsiri said authorities were likely to revisit discussions with the Lufthansa Technik since they have a strong network all over the world and because they might want to come to this region.
He also stated they would be consulted on any new proposals for similar operations once the government reaches a mature stage in the talks with such companies.
Lufthansa Technik AG is one of the world’s leading providers of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, the company’s website stated. This organisation is the Lufthansa German Airlines’ maintenance arm and is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.
The national carrier was in discussion to ensure they are equipped with the technological know-how as the organisation is engaged in offering airlines and other operators of commercial airlines from minor maintenance to complete overhauls from repair of defective components to comprehensive spare-parts logistics.
The joint venture with Lufthansa Technik would ensure the latter invests on MRO that would allow the state airline to conduct third party maintenance related work, it was reported.
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Sri Lankan President arrives in London on a four-day official visit - http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...25824062CH.php
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From the article in your link:-
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena arrived in London by a scheduled commercial flight...Always fly a stable approach - it's the only stability you'll find this business
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