Category: Shipping and Transport
Opening Runways
The Civil Aviation Authority is awaiting the Ministry green light to open access to all of fourteen airports in the country.The Civil Aviation Authority says private airlines can start flights as soon as permission is granted, as the traffic will be light to the airports all of which are operational at present.rn rnThe airports mainly […]
Contingency Plans
National carrier SriLankan Airlines said on Thursday, it has cancelled all flights to Kuwait and re-routed flights to its European destinations with immediate effect due to US led attacks on Iraq.Flights to other Middle East destinations remain unchanged, but all flights to Kuwait will terminate at Dubai, the airline said in a statement.rn rnSriLankan said […]
Hot Air
Government plans to make Sri Lanka an air-hub after finalising a deal with the management partner of the national carrier.State aviation officials are drawing up a cabinet paper recommending freer access for airlines to the countrys airports.rn rnThese plans come amidst ongoing discussions between the government and Emirates Airlines to renegotiate the national carriers privatisation […]
Family Planning
SriLankan Airlines could add up to four new aircrafts to its fleet this year as new destinations come on line. rnSriLankan Airlines Head of Commercial G T Jayaseelan told Lanka Business Online that two long haul aircrafts could be brought in to service the proposed Rome and Beijing routes later this year.rn rnJayaseelan says that […]
Oil Clog
Airfares will go up by up to US$ 10 per sector from Wednesday, as carriers try to cover rising fuel costs. Fuel prices since January have shot up from 86 US cts to 106 US cts in March ignited by the rising tension in the Middle East.rn rnAirfares to India will only go up by […]
Cargo Business
SriLankan Cargo, the cargo arm of SriLankan Airlines, has handled the largest volume of transhipment cargo in January 2003 since July 2001.The volume of transhipment cargo handled in January totalled 1,341 metric tonnes, the airline said on Wednesday.rn rnSriLankan Cargos contributes around 14 percent to the airlines group revenues.rn rnSriLankans fleet currently comprises two Airbus […]
Oil Shock
SriLankan Airlines has sought Civil Aviation Authority approval to raise outbound airfares by US$ 5 per sector.The airline has sought the increase, as fuel prices have shot up by 10 percent to 12 percent over the past three-months due to Middle East tension.rn rnldblquote This is not a decision we took on our own. We […]
Cost Cutting
SriLankan Airlines expects to sharply cut its losses during the current financial year but said the group will be in the black.The national carrier said it expects losses of around US$ 10 mn to US$ 15 mn this year, sharply lower than the US$ 60 mn loss recorded during the last financial year.rn rnAs a […]
Profit Warning
SriLankan Airlines, on Friday made a profit warning for the current financial year, but said group profits will remain steady as the previous year.rnAs a stand-alone entity, SriLankan has never made a profit in its entire history, but the Emirates led management is confident of turning things around for the financial year ending 2003/4.rn rnSriLankan […]
Reverse Gear
Sri Lankas 13 bus companies may continue under state control for longer, as attempts to bring in private management steers off course. Industry watchers say plans for a state lead restructuring programme were being touted as a contingency measure in case the Sri Lankan government fails to seal any deals.rn rnIf the state takes up […]
Revving Up
A newly set up Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture, plans to lure ladies to hop on and popularise motorbikes in Sri Lanka.United Motors Lanka Ltd (UML) on Tuesday tied up with Indias TVS Group to form a 50:50 joint venture to sell motorbikes and motor spares.rn rnUML hopes to infuse around Rs. 100 mn into the […]
Road Barons
UML will pump around Rs.100 mn into the joint venture, with plans to expand the motorbike marketing venture into local assembly under a second stage, United Motors Lanka Managing Director Anil Wijesinghe told Lanka Business Online.rn rnWijesinghe said the two firms ldblquote have successfully concluded negotiations on entering into a joint venture partnership. dblquotern rnMotor […]
