New domestic airline to be launched in Lanka
Shirajiv SIRIMANE
New service: The 17 seater Raytheon Beechcraft aircraft
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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 Lankaâs 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.
âIt is envisaged that the new alliance will offer a âflying busâ
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.â
The company announced that plans for the second quarter of the year
also include the introduction of a âcorporate jet cardâ which have been
very popular with corporate flyers in the US and Europe and now in India
which are essentially loaded with âbulk flying hoursâ 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. |