Discussions are currently underway with Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways to commence flights to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), according to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL).
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, AASL Chairman Athula Galketiya stated that Sri Lankan authorities were currently engaged in discussions with Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways to commence international flight operations to Sri Lanka.
Elaborating further, he stated: “Negotiations are still ongoing with these two airlines. It has not been confirmed yet.
“It’s highly likely that they will be permitted to fly to Sri Lanka because the season is starting from next month. When the winter season starts, more airlines will come.”
He clarified that these two prospective airlines were looking to commence flights to the BIA initially.
Commenting further, Galketiya revealed that the Indian low-cost airline, IndiGo Airlines would commence direct flight operations from Chennai to BIA on 1 September.
IndiGo Airlines commenced flight operations in Sri Lanka earlier this year with the introduction of direct flights thrice a week from Mumbai to BIA.
Commenting further on the status of the defunct Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), the AASL Chairman stated that although the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to hand over the operation of the airport to an Indian-Russian Joint Venture (JV), AASL was yet to enter into an agreement with this JV.
“We are still negotiating with them (the Indian-Russian JV) with regard to the agreement. These discussions are ongoing, but the JV has received Cabinet approval,” he stated.
Sunday Morning
