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Possibly Sri Lanka's first budget carrier Holiday Air is optimistic about flying from Colombo to 16 destinations alongside SriLankan Airlines by end February 2006.





Possibly Sri Lanka's first budget carrier Holiday Air is optimistic about flying from Colombo to 16 destinations alongside SriLankan Airlines by end February 2006. The no-frills carrier is one of nine contenders for a local license to fly as Sri Lanka’s second or third airline on international routes, so far closely held by national carrier SriLankan.

Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority will close applications for new operators on July 18, but Holiday Air's CEO says they have got provisional clearance.

"If all things go well, we will start off as a schedule airline from end February next year.

We have got permission for 16 destinations on provisional basis, of which we will utilize nine in our initial phase," Arjun Ruzaik said addressing members at the Colombo West Rotary Club on Wednesday.

The nine routes include: Singapore, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Calicut, Tiruchirappally, Male, Cochin and Trivandrum, with its three Boeing 733's and one French ATR 42.

A second phase of operation