The Hindu : Sri Lankan Airlines starts flights to Hyderabad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sri Lankan Airlines starts flights to Hyderabad

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 22. With Sri Lankan Airlines commencing direct flights to Hyderabad from Sunday, the aircraft carrier is planning to promote Sri Lanka and India as twin holiday destinations on its network.

The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, greeted the passengers who included industry leaders, top travel agents and tour operators as the maiden flight touched down at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airlines would be operating flights four times a week---every Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday---to the city, the ninth Indian destination to be included in its route. Currently, the airline is offering a holiday package costing Rs.17,500 each to passengers from Hyderabad to Colombo and back.

Addressing the media, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Mangala Manasinghe, along with top officials of the airlines, emphasised the need for both the countries to work together in various fields for realising the potential of the SAARC region to become a formidable economic power. Pointing out that the economic growth of China (10 per cent), India (8.1), Russia (7), Argentina and Sri Lanka (both 5.5) was far better than the average global rate of 3.5 per cent, he said "the potential is good, the going is good, let us become the most powerful regional grouping in the world." He said promotion of tourism would help bridge the trade gap between the two countries. India's trade with Sri Lanka was worth $ 1076 million last year while that of Sri Lanka was $ 240 million.

The head of the commercial wing of Sri Lankan Airlines, G.T.Jeyaseelan, said tourism between the two countries could be enhanced by increasing the travel capacity. The second largest number of tourists to his country were from India after the UK, while Sri Lanka accounted for the third largest number of visitors to India after the UK and the USA. "We plan to aggressively market Sri Lanka and India as twin holiday destinations. Each offers tremendous value for money and has its own unique attractions."

He said the frequency of flights to Hyderabad would be increased daily by the year-end and Hyderabad would be promoted as a tourist destination. The airline is planning to include Andhra Pradesh in the circuit being operated to Bodhgaya. It is currently operating 60 flights a week to India with daily services to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Trichy and Trivandrum and soon to Bangalore. It is planning to operate flights to 18 other tourist destinations, including Goa and Port Blair.

He said a "Hyderabad holiday package" would be launched soon on the lines of similar packages offered for Bangalore and Chennai. A Sri Lankan holiday package is also in the offing. Replying to a question, he said the number of tourists to the island nation had increased after the ceasefire agreement.

The Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Cecil Amarsinghe, said that Sri Lanka had embarked on a liberalised regime on aviation and would introduce open-sky policy by next year. Two domestic Indian operators, Sahara and Jet Airways, had been allowed to operate to Sri Lanka. The two airlines were awaiting formal approval from the Indian Government.

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