Demand for Domestic Air Travel to Go up with Increase in Tourist Arrivals

06th January 2012

With incresing tourist arrivals which is expected to go past one million mark for the year 2012, Sri Lanka is set for a grand take off of its domestic air travel. Already four companies are opearting domestic services with another new player already entering the market. The demand for domestic air services and the comtetition that would create in the sector should create an ideal environment good for both the traveller and the operator.

SriLankan Air Taxi

SriLankan Airlines will commence its Air Taxi operations island wide, taking you to more popular tourist destinations in the south and the hill country within minutes. Twin otter planes on straight floats with a seating capacity for 15 passengers will take off and land on identified lakes, lagoons & reservoirs.

Scheduled flights connecting to SriLankan Airlines international flights will operate daily, while charter flights and the ever popular scenic flights will also be available. (Flight Schedule)

Availing of the air taxi service will provide business and leisure travellers with the advantage of reaching their destinations in less than 85% of the time spent on surface travel. Adventure seekers will enjoy the view of the many breath-taking locations in Sri Lanka where land like no other.

Reservations for scheduled flights can be made through SriLankan Airlines offices or on-line through the airline's website.

For Charter flight, requests may be e-mailed at least 24 hours prior to required departure to airtaxi@srilankan.com or call Sri Lanka - 1979, international - 00 94 77777 1979.

AirTaxi - Flight Schedules and More Info


Helitours

Helitours the largest & premier domestic air service in Sri Lanka, operated by the SLAF, completed its 200th flight on the 24th March 2010 since resumption of operations last year.

Helitours resumed its operations on the 21st of July last year after the successful conclusion of the "humanitarian operations". Since then, Helitours has transported 2669 passengers, clocking nearly 520 flying hours in the process.

Other than scheduled flights, Helitours offers a range of other services utilizing its fleet of helicopters. "Heli-lifts" to any part of the country or to any off-shore platforms are performed. Shore to ship operations are also carried out. Special arrangements can be made to transport patients.

HeliTours - Flight Schedules and More Info


Expo Air

Expo Aviation (Pvt) Ltd. has proven that the sky is not the limit as it forges new boundaries for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan aviation.  The country’s premier operator of domestic passenger air services, Expo Aviation has the distinction of being the first private airline in Sri Lanka to be licensed for international cargo operations by the Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

In addition to providing Passenger and Cargo operations in the region, Expo Aviation offers a range of value added services to the Aviation industry, such as leasing of aircraft to other operators, Passenger and Cargo Charter operations and performing its own Ground Handling for Cargo operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

ExpoAir - Flight Schedules and More Info


Deccan Aviation

Deccan Aviation Lanka is a seven year old helicopter and charter aircraft operator based in Sri Lanka.

Over the past years we have built a reputaion based on the sound principles of superior customer care, starting with our personal meet-and-greet service at the airport, and ending with your safe arrival at your intended destination.

Deccan can take you to any place in Sri Lanka. Whatever your requirement we have aircraft and helicopters suitable for any mission. For international flights, Deccan has a fleet of executive jets through its parent company Deccan Charters India.

Deccan Aviation - Charter Flights and More Info


Senok Aviation

The Senok Group, chiefly in the automobile business, is set to start a domestic helicopter service in November deploying two brand new Eurocopter AS350-B3 purchased from French company Eurocopter South East Asia, officials of the company said. The acquisition of the two helicopters marks the start of the Senok Group’s venture into the aviation business, providing helicopter services to corporate customers and tourists locally.


The company has received the Air Operator Certificate to commence operations, he said adding that the company plans to popularize heli-tourism in the island with the sound economic environment and tourism industry thriving in the country and the company anticipates the demand for domestic airlines especially from investors and tourists will increase significantly.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals in December 2011 Up by 15.2pct

Sri Lanka Domestic Airline Business Picks up with Increasing Demand & Infrastructure Development. Senok Aviation to Fly Two AS350 Eurocopters

14th March 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Charumini de Silva

There is an increasing interest among corporates to commence domestic airlines as the demand and infrastructure developments are taking place on a rapid pace. Senok Aviation (Pvt) Limited has received the approval from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to import two brand new Eurocopter AS350-B3.

The construction of the hangar will be completed in the near future. Thus, the company expects to commence the helicopter operations by June or July.

Speaking to Daily News Business Senok Aviation (Pvt) Limited CEO Keerthi Dissanayake said the company is now expecting the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to commence operations by June once the hangar facility inspections are up to the standards of CAA.

Previously the company’s idea was to commence a passenger aircraft facility within the country, but since the domestic airports were on the development stages; the company selected helicopters as the starter. Another reason Senok chose helicopter facility was that it has the ability to land on any surface easily compared to passenger aircraft, he said.

“It is important that the country build and upgrade the existing airports as, there are many which expect to enter domestic airline operating industry.

At this stage Senok Aviation also thought of entering the industry with the helicopters as there is an impressive demand from the corporates and investors.

With the sound economic environment and tourism industry thriving in the country the demand for domestic airlines especially from investors and tourists will increase significantly.

This corporate segment is very time conscious when it comes to travelling and capturing these high end markets is essential for Senok Aviation as a debuting industrialist,” Dissanayake said.

The company is keen on commencing passenger aircraft facility once the airports are upgraded, he said.

The CAA has received another six applications for aeroplanes and five applications for helicopter operations within the country in mid January.

Apart from Senok Aviation there is another helicopter applicant and an aeroplane applicant that indicates progress in commencing domestic airlines, a CAA senior official said.

At the moment Deccan Aviation, Cosmos and the Sri Lanka Air Force run domestic air services in the country.

SriLankan, the island’s state-run national carrier operates a float plane service.

Related Info :

• Airplane & Helicopter Operators Await Clearance to Operate in Sri Lanka

• Deccan Aviation New Aircraft Brings New Leasure Products and Attractive Airfares to the Market

• Cessna Appoints Infotechs for Sri Lanka and Maldives. Introduces Cessna Grand Caravan To Enhance Tourism, cargo & Corporate Travel

• Sri Lanka Air Force Helitours Air Service Launched under Discover Serendipity Theme

• SriLankan Launches Air Taxi Service this December in Time for the Winter Tourist Season

Domestic Air Terminal for Colombo BIA Airport, Sri Lanka

07th November 2010, www.sundayobserver.lk, By Shirajiv Sirimane

The Airport Aviation Service Services (AASL) is to build a domesticair terminal at the Bandaranaike International airport (BIA) inColombo.

Chairman, AASL, Prasanna Wickramasuriya said that the old SriLankanairline catering service would be used for this purpose.

“We are now drawing plans to get this project off the ground,” he said.

The main objective of this is to enable a passenger to take aconnecting flight to several domestic airports which are currentlybeing developed.

Mihin Lanka has already announced that they would be starting aColombo Jaffna domestic flights for BIA.

Sri Lanka Domestic Aviation to Takeoff. 13 Firms Apply for Clearance

19th July 2010 www.dailymirror.lk

Thirteen firms that applied to start domestic air services in Sri Lanka after the end of a 30-year war are awaiting the final nod from the island's aviation ministry and the president's office, an official said.

Director general of Sri Lanka's civil aviation authority H M C Nimalsiri said domestic, foreign and joint ventures between local and overseas firms had applied to fly within the island.
"We have sent the applications for approval to the aviation ministry and the President's office," he said.

"To import aircraft to Sri Lanka approval of the Presidential office is needed. Within 60 days of approval these companies can start operations." Sri Lanka's leisure industry has called for domestic air services to take high-end tourist to resorts away from Colombo.

The island's air force also operates a commercial service to Jaffna and charters to airstrips especially in the east. The military has VIP transport aircraft which it bought during a 30-year war which ended last year.