AVIATION

SriLankan begins new era

Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

SriLankan Airlines held celebrations in the major cities of Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah to mark the beginning of its New Era yesterday following its separation from the Emirates Airlines.

In Riyadh, the island's ambassador Abdul Ajeed Mohammed Marleen lit the traditional oil lamp to mark the beginning of the new era on Tuesday in the midst of a distinguished gathering.

The airlines' Sales Manager for Central Province Fawzan Fareid, Sherien Shouhdy, regional travel manager of Kanoo Travel, Milind Borkar, its regional operations manager and M Kiritharan, its finance director were present .

Speaking on the occasion, Fareid said that the airlines is determined to forge ahead offering better services to its passengers.

He announced the launch of 'SmiLes' commencing April 1, its new frequent flyer programme which promises a wide range of exciting rewards for passengers of Sri Lanka's award-winning National Carrier.

The airline's previous frequent flyer programme, Skywards, ended on March 31st 2008 as SriLankan's management changed hands.

He added: "SmiLes will be introducing a number of partner airlines and other companies which will offer members a choice to both earn and burn miles for a variety of goods and services. These will range from hotel stays to bank services, retailers, and especially SriLankan Holidays - the airline's leisure arm."

Ambassador Marleen said that SriLankan Airlines has earned a name of its own by way of its unique services both on board as well as on ground.

" Coupled with the traditional Sri Lankan hospitality and the exemplary services of the airlines, I am sure SriLankan could offer the best services to its customers as an independent carrier." In Jeddah, similar function was held under the chairmanship of Chintaka Bandara, sales manager for Western province where the island's Consul general Abdul Latiff Mohammed Lafeer was also present.

In the Eastern province, the airlines' country manager for Saudi Arabia Reza Yusuf celebrated the occasion with the members of his airlines and Kanoo Travel, General Sales Agent for Sri Lanka.

Emirates re-introduces First Class on Colombo flights

Travellers out of Colombo can now experience the luxury of Emirates' First Class service, following the introduction of three-class configuration on selected flights.

The Dubai-based carrier has replaced the Airbus A330 aircraft it operated on flight EK 552 to Dubai on Mondays and Thursdays, with Boeing 777 aircraft with 14 and 12 First Class seats respectively, with effect from March 31.

As a result, passengers who wish to travel First Class from Colombo onwards can now do so twice a week and consequently earn more Skywards Miles from Emirates' Frequent Flyer Programme, noted Emirates' Sales Manager Sri Lanka, Devika Ellepola.

With an all-pervading air of luxury and exclusivity, Emirates' First Class travel truly sets passengers in a class of their own. From the plush airport lounges with full business facilities to the ultra swift check-in and boarding, First Class passengers are pampered from the moment their journey begins - until they leave the comfort of their seats to be whisked in style to their final destination.

On the Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft, the roomy sleeper seats are separated by wide aisles and are equipped with electronically-controlled leg rest, lumbar support and adjustable headrests. The personal swivel table stored in the armrest slides aside at a touch. Ample wardrobe and overhead locker space is provided and all passengers receive exclusive complimentary amenity kits on night flights. Each First Class cabin has two exclusive toilets for the use of passengers.

"The return of First Class services on Emirates flights departing Colombo after more than nine years would be welcomed by many of our frequent flyers," Ellepola said. "This is a development that we have worked towards because we believe there is potential in the market." The possibility of introducing aircraft in three-class configuration on more flights out of Colombo would be explored as the year progresses, she said.

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More flights from Thai Airways to Lanka

Walter Liyanaaarachchi in Thailand

Frequencies from Sri Lanka to Thailand are expected to expand with more Sri Lankans opting to visit the country. Thai Airways International adding a frequency to Sri Lanka itself is a testimony to this effect Ground Customer Services Department, Service Operation Director, Mano Sapayanon told a press conference held in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Not only Sri Lankans, travellers from any part of the world can use Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport since it has all the facilities and basic amenities including cargo facilities, healthcare, freight forwarding", Sapayanon said.

Suwarnabhumi Airport, a new airport located 24 kilometers east of Bangkok, replaced the old airport at Don Muang and accommodates all international and domestic flights to Bangkok, he said.

Describing the modern air traffic control systems he said that Suvarnabhumi Airport, is a new international airport. The 132.2 metre high control tower at Suvarnabhumi airport is the world's tallest and provides the beast visual coverage of overall airside.

To facilitate smooth air traffic control, the air traffic control centre is fully equipped with state-of-the-art aircraft navigation and guiding systems and is having one of the most advanced facilities in the modern aviation.

It has the capacity to manage 76 flights per hour.

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Schedule changes from Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines will be making some adjustments to its schedules in response to changing patterns in demand for travel. The adjustments will reallocate capacity among the routes and result in an increase overall across the network.

There will be more flights to and from Australia. From April 3, Brisbane will be served with an additional three weekly frequencies, increasing to three times daily in July. Further, flights to Sydney increase from April to 24 times weekly, and will further increase to four times daily in June.

Within South East Asia, service to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam will increase to three times daily from March 30, and frequency to Hanoi will increase from daily to ten times weekly from July 2.

From this week, Shanghai services will increase from four to five times daily. Some increases are planned for destinations in India, subject to traffic rights and regulatory approval. Flights to Chennai are planned to increase from 10 to 11 per week.

Frequency between Singapore and Delhi is also planned to increase from a daily service to nine times weekly from March 30 and to twice daily services later in the year.

Frequency will be increased between Singapore and Dubai to twice daily, from the existing 10 flights per week, with effect from May 18.

The Airline had recently commenced a second daily service between Singapore and Zurich, and earlier this year, increased frequency on the Milan and Barcelona route to a daily service.

The current 5 times weekly service between Bangkok and Osaka will be suspended from May 17. It will be replaced with an additional daily Singapore-Bangkok service, which will bring to 41 the number of weekly flights between Singapore and Bangkok.

The current 4 times weekly service between Taipei and Los Angeles will be suspended from October 1. Three new weekly flights between Singapore and Taipei will maintain capacity on the Singapore-Taipei route.

Arrangements are being made to notify those customers affected by the adjustments and to offer them alternative solutions.