Category: Aviation

May 10, 2010 (LBO) – Emirates will launch flights to the Iraqi capital Baghdad from July 1, 2010, the last remaining Middle Eastern destination to be frequented by the airline, a statement said. Baghdad will be Emirates’ 103rd international destination and one of six new destinations to be launched by the airline this year including, […]

May 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines will launch a four-times a week service to Shanghai in July 2010, the third Chinese city in its global route network, the airline said in a statement. The new service will expand the airline’s cargo carrying capacity between China and Sri Lanka, with rapid connections in Colombo […]

Apr 29, 2010 (LBO) – Emirates airlines said it was starting flights to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam from Colombo first and business class passenger being given complementary stays in Dubai. From Colombo, Emirates operates 21 services a week to Dubai. “Sri Lanka and the Netherlands are linked by centuries of history and trade, said […]

April 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines said it had given seats to all passengers to Europe who were held up after the continent closed its airspace by using extra flights and will resume its normal schedule this week. The last extra flight would leave Colombo on Wednesday April 28. SriLankan flies 19 times […]

Apr 23, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters face higher transport costs with the flight disruptions caused by volcanic ash over Europe sending air freight rates shooting up and causing a space crunch, officials said. Tony de Livera, chairman of the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association, said the flight disruptions have disrupted local businesses relying […]

Apr 21, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines said it has re-started flights to London, Paris and Milan after European aviation authorities relaxed restrictions, and is planning extra flights for stranded passengers. “However, passengers should also call ahead several hours prior to flight departure to check on whether their flight is operating as scheduled,” the […]

LONDON, April 18, 2010 (AFP) – Airlines urged a re-think of flight restrictions as a volcanic ash cloud made Europe a virtual no-fly zone for a fourth straight day Sunday with nearly seven million passengers affected. However, the European Union presidency offered a glimmer of hope for stranded passengers, saying half of the flights scheduled […]

Apr 19, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s controversial state-run budget carrier Mihin Lanka lost 930 million rupees in 2009, despite support from the island’s national carrier SriLankan, which itself made 12. 2 billion rupees in operational losses, official data shows. After starting in 2007, Mihin Lanka burnt up its start-up capital given from people’s money […]

Apr 19, 2010 (LBO) – Dubai-based Emirates airlines said flight disruptions to Europe had cost it 50 million US dollars and it was losing revenues from 18,000 passengers a day following volcanic ash spewed out of Iceland. Affected passengers could cancel their bookings without charge. The airlines said updates are posted on Emirates.com and to […]

LONDON, April 17, 2010 (AFP) – Millions of people faced worsening travel chaos Saturday as a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, which risks lingering over Europe for up to five more days, forced countries to extend flight bans. France decided to shut the three airports in the Paris area and others in the north of […]

Apr 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run SriLankan Airline has not been able to face the competition in a liberalized air services framework and it has to be saved, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said. He said Sri Lanka’s opposition was now criticizing the government’s economic strategy using false propaganda. “During their time they made […]

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines said it wants to encourage more young women to become pilots with the national carrier, pointing to recent flights by an all-female flying crew. Sri Lankan Airlines’ lady pilots have “quietly revolutionized” aviation in Sri Lanka, with several international flights being carried out by all-female crews, the […]