Deccan Aviation Lanka to fly high
Shirajiv Sirimane
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Enjoying paradise isle
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MEETING PASSENGER DEMAND: Deccan Aviation Lanka said that in
addition to introducing a fixed wing aircraft, they would continue their
helicopter operations to cater to tourists, NGO staff and local
passengers to fly to domestic airports.
A Deccan official said that an executive type 17 seat Beechcraft
1900c aircraft built by the Raytheon Corporation in the USA, was
introduced last month to meet the growing passenger demand. The Deccan
fleet is further augmented by a USA built Bell Jet Ranger, the only
private helicopter in the country.
“Both our services are operating on a high seat factor and therefore
we are looking to invest more in Sri Lanka as we have faith in the
destination,” he said.
“We can land in Palai, Minuwangoda, Ampara, Koggala, Weerawila
Sigiriya and Ratmalana, and we also pick passengers from the Colombo
international airport,” he said. No changes are reputed in Lanka
investment arising from the recent Kingfisher-Air Deccan purchase.
“We are reassuring our clients that our services would continue to
operate in Sri Lanka despite the drop in tourism arrivals to the
country,” he said.
Sri Lankan Airlines, suspended operations of its air taxi services
with effect from June 6 this month. However, it is expected that Deccan
would be able to cater to the needs of the up market hotels that had
come to rely on a hassle free transfer for their VIP guests from the
international airport and between destinations within the country.
Earlier this month, Deccan Aviation, CEO Suren Mirchandani commented
on the recent creation of India’s biggest airline by the merger of Air
Deccan and Kingfisher: “Air Deccan is an investor in our company, we are
an independent company.
Today was the same as yesterday here at our company - but obviously
we are very pleased that our partner has risen to the number one rank in
terms of market share and aircraft in the growing India market.
Capt Gopinath has allowed us to grow our own capacity here in Sri
Lanka, and he is like a godfather to everyone here”. |
