 SriLankan Airlines flying high
 SriLankan
Airlines, South Asia's leading airline, announced that its traffic on Indian
flights has jumped by 30 per cent during the first nine months of the FY 2004-05
over the same period the previous year. The airline had increased its seating
capacity in the Chennai sector by up to 75 per cent recently, G T Jeyaseelan,
head of commercial of the airline, disclosed in Chennai on January 25.
The group has recorded an
increase in traffic of 23 per cent globally in the first nine months of FY
2004-2005, while 33 per cent new flights were operated. Of the total traffic
that travelled by SriLankan Airlines in this period from India, 25-30 per cent
were MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) travellers.
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Jeyaseelan |
Jeyaseelan,
announcing the increase in traffic, said, "India is a key market for
SriLankan Airlines, which is increasing steadily as the traveller's choice for
locations like Europe, S-E Asia, the US and the Middle-East. With MICE traffic
to Sri Lanka also emerging as a key segment, the importance of India in our
global game-plan is accentuated."
SriLankan Airlines operates out
of 10 cities in India, and this will go up to 11 shortly. The cities it flies
currently are Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Bangalore, Kochi, Kozhikode, Hyderabad,
Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Mumbai, Gaya. Ahmedabad and Kolkata will become a
part of SriLankan Airlines schedule shortly.
Indian flights during
tsunami:
 There
was no disruption or change in the SriLankan Airlines flight schedule to any
destination from India on account of the tsunami crisis. No flights were
cancelled or rescheduled, Jeyaseelan said. The airline launched a relief
programme for the displaced persons and placed its resources at the disposal of
the Sri Lankan government for humanitarian flights.
Sri Lanka is rapidly returning
to normalcy after the tsunami crisis. The airport was fully operational
throughout and coped efficiently with additional flights carrying medical aid
and supplies from other countries. On an average, there are 35 flights into and
out of Sri Lanka daily with 34 international carriers operating out of the
airport.
 SriLankan
Airlines undertook a massive relief effort and its staff worked round-the-clock,
assisting the authorities to repatriate overseas visitors home, fly emergency
aid workers and supplies into Colombo from all over the world and launch
rehabilitation programmes for the victims of the tsunami devastation, said Rohan
Seneviratne, manager, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The airline continues to work
with embassies and international aid agencies in mobilising relief and emergency
supplies, and also with the Tourist Board.
Airport staff of the airline
worked round-the-clock to clear the tonnes of aid flown into Colombo by the
national carrier, other scheduled airlines and charter operators from all parts
of the world free of charge and it continued till recently. However, the
national carrier is continuing to handle all relief items consigned to the
Government of Sri Lanka free of charge. The airline established a 24-hour
canteen in the cargo warehouse at BI Airport, to recognize and support the
worthy efforts of volunteers.
The airline also launched its
own internal relief operation, by calling upon the resources of its country
managers and general sales agents worldwide, to mobilise relief aid in their
respective territories, Jeyaseelan said.
Assistance flowed in the form
of dry rations, milk powder, water and medical supplies. Cash donation,
including a day's wages from all of its over 4,000 staff, went into the fund and
much of the money collected is being used for rehabilitation work.
 SriLankan
Airline's network spans 42 destinations in 23 countries across Europe, the
Middle East and Asia. It has emerged as an award-winning airline with accolades
for being the best airline in Central Asia for the fourth consecutive year.
Skytrax Airline surveys, which
also presented the airline with awards for being the runner-up for best cabin
staff in 2003 and for having the world's friendliest cabin crew in 2002, are
recognised internationally as the leading global monitor of passenger opinions.
The airline was also presented
an operational excellence award by Airbus Industries for being the most
efficient operator of Airbus A330, in the small fleet category, among all the
world's airlines operating A330s in 2002 and 2003.
The airline recently won the
TTG Asia award for being the best airline in South Asia.
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