Thiruvananthapuram: A modern airport with excellent facilities for passengers is needed to attract more international airlines to the city and to increase tourist arrival in the coming days, head of service delivery of SriLankan Airlines Nigel O'Shea has said.

Mr. O'Shea, who was on his maiden visit to the city on Thursday in connection with the opening of the renovated counter of the airline in the international airport here, told The Hindu that only an airport with modern infrastructure facilities to cater to the needs of the passengers will be able to attract international airlines.

Although many international airlines operate from the city, the airport still does not have an aerobridge. Mr. O'Shea said the renovated Bandaranaike International Airport, in Colombo, thrown open for traffic this week, has eight aerobridges. The airline official said the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram needs efficient baggage handling facility, good baggage reconciliation system and capability to handle cargo.

Kerala has immense potential in the tourism sector and a functional airport is needed for increasing the tourist traffic to the city. God's Own Country, despite being listed as one of the must see 50 destinations in the World, is unknown in SriLanka. The people from the island nation, proceeds to West Asia, especially Dubai, for their holidays.

Pointing out the airline's association with SriLankan Tourist Board, he said the airline was keen to promote tourism to Kerala. "We are happy to support the initiative and to work with the tourism authorities in Kerala in promoting the destination", he added.

Thiruvananthapuram has a "special place" for the flight operations of the airline and the State capital is very important for SriLankan Airlines. Judging the passenger demand in the sector, the airline had increased the frequency of flights from six a week in 2001 to 12 this year. The airline has also deployed A-320's and wide-bodied A-330's for flight operations.

According to the airline official, the load factor for the flights of SriLankan Airlines operating in the Thiruvananthapuram-Colombo sector was 80 per cent on an average throughout the year. In addition to the flight to the State capital, the airline also operates 11weekly flights to Kochi and nine weekly flights to Kozhikode.

Mr. O'Shea said although the airline has recovered from the December 2004 tsunami that hit the island nation, the tourism sector of Sri Lanka is yet to recover from the incident.

"Tourists have started to come to Sri Lanka again. The tourism sector is recovering, but yet to return to normalcy. There are signs of growth," he added.

Asked about the commencement of flights by two private operators from India to Colombo, the official said the airline has not been affected.

"Increase in capacity increases the market and the people in the two countries are feeling comfortable with the increase in the number of airlines and flights to the sector," he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail