Mixed reaction for Emirates -SriLankan deal

Shirajiv Sirimane

OPINION: The airline industry is showing mixed reactions to the SriLankan Airlines and Emirates management deal, which will soon have to be renegotiated.

Former President of the Sri Lanka Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) Nihal Perera said the deal should be cancelled and the management given back to SriLankan Airlines. "The Emirates management has eaten up all lucrative markets operated by SriLankan airlines and it is time that SriLankan officials run the operations," he said.

He said the expatriate workers employed by the Emirates management are being paid very high salaries and the incentives provided to them too are very high. "Basically the wastage is very high," he said.

A leading travel agent said that the Sri Lankans have the resources to manage an institution of this nature and therefore the government should consider taking the management back to its control. He also said that even the air fares offered by SriLankan are very high and this is discouraging travellers.

President TAASL, Wing Commander Noel Fernando said the subject was very volatile and he does not wish to comment.

Another travel agent said that though SriLankan fares are high, the service offered by them are of high quality. "Since the management changed hands the SriLankan code (UL) which was usually known as 'usually late' has changed. The aircrafts now are on time and on board service is unmatched," he said.

He said that there would be tremendous pressure for staff, if a local management takes over the airlines. "People would be asking for so many favours and the quality would go down," he said.

CEO confifi Group Anura Lokuhetti said that each country should have their own airline to promote tourism. "However one must also take in to account that due to the wide Emirates airline network the industry too is benefited," he said.