New domestic airline to be launched in Lanka

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

LAUNCH: The JS Group of Pakistan will be lunching a domestic airline service in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Defence has cleared the venture.

The Company has already entered into a commercial partnership with Deccan Aviation Lanka, which is already operating helicopter operations.

JS Air and Deccan Aviation will initially operate flights to Palali, Trincomalee, Ampara, Weerawila, Koggala and other domestic destinations.

The aircraft will also be offered to corporate clients for charter for their travel to India and regional destinations.

The modern 17 seater US manufactured, fixed wing, twin engine Raytheon Beechcraft aircraft could be used for both cargo and passenger flights.

It is capable of flying non-stop to Maldives or India for corporate clients, and has the unique capability of being able to use virtually all of Sri Lanka’s airfields an official of Deccan Aviation said. With the induction of the $ 3 million Beechcraft, Deccan becomes the only company to offer both helicopters and fixed wing options to customers.

“It is envisaged that the new alliance will offer a ‘flying bus’ service to inbound tour operators at competitive rates from the international airport, and also for the first time offers local corporate flyers a concept that the west has long been accustomed to a deluxe private aircraft for corporate domestic or international charters.”

The company announced that plans for the second quarter of the year also include the introduction of a ‘corporate jet card’ which have been very popular with corporate flyers in the US and Europe and now in India which are essentially loaded with ‘bulk flying hours’ and a choice of aircraft to choose from, depending on the application required.

Deccan also announced plans to launch a service to co-ordinate ground handling arrangements for the increasing number of private aircraft visiting Sri Lanka, and whose owners tend to use Deccan services to travel internally.

The induction of this aircraft will enhance our organizations presence in the growing domestic aviation market, with an expanded service and product range.

The Government of Sri Lanka has always encouraged us, and the same is true in this case. We would not be here without the support of all the agencies we deal with.

The $ 700 million JS Group is among the corporate heavyweights in Pakistan, with quoted and unquoted group companies playing a leading role in virtually every sector of the fast growing Pakistan economy.

The agreement was signed by company officials in the presence of the Chairman of JS Air, Munawar Siddiqui and Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shahzad Chaudhary.