Aviation

Mihin to fly Mumbai on December 15

Shirajiv Sirimane

Mihin Lanka will be recommencing their flights from December 15 and Mumbai will be their latest destination.

The airline has wet leased a US built, 184 seater Boeing 737 from a French company for the operations. Mihin manned by foreign pilots, plans to operate two flights a week to Mumbai and six weekly flights to Dubai with Tuesday being the non-operational day.

Mihin’s Cochin frequency would be a twice weekly and Trichy and Trivandrum six per. Seasonal flights will operate to Gaya from February 15. Chairman, Mihin Lanka, Raja Edirisuriya told Daily News Business they will bring down the second aircraft next year.

Chairman, Raja Edirisuriya Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

The airline has now decided to do away with the two far eastern routes Bangkok and Singapore until the second aircraft arrives. Mihin also will not be operating to the Maldives.

Edirisuriya said they have learned from their mistakes and the airline will be re-positioned in between a full serviced airline and a low carrier. “However our fare will still be the lowest,” he said.

He said Mihin would be a viable venture as the tables have turned. “We had a fight within the country and since SriLankan is now owned by the Government Mihin is in a better position to look at joint synergies,” he said. Mihin earlier bought a sandwich meal for around US$ 20 and today we could get it for half. “Similarly other overheads too have come down,” he said.

Mihin has also added on board duty free and are looking at introducing a cab service from point A to B. “We are in the process of negotiating with local hotels to offer packages to Indian destinations,” he said. Mihin earned Rs. 2,338 million and flew over 200,000 passengers. However their overheads were is Rs. 4567 million.

Singapore introduces new in-flight amenities

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Singapore Air Lines has introduced an exquisite line of in-flight amenities to make its passengers relaxed during the Christmas In The Tropics organised by Singapore Airlines and the Tourist Board, General Manager C.H. Chia said.

The new First Class in Boeing 777-300ER air craft provides superior privacy and comfort. Passengers travelling on night flights of at least seven hours, and day flights exceeding nine hours can indulge in exclusive turn down service.

The cabin crew, will promptly turn the seat into a bed, complete with down-filled mattress, duvet, and a large pillow whenever the passenger wants , pampering Five Star service designed in mind he said .

Other premium touches include an amenities kit with Ferragamo toiletries and perfume, as well as a Givenchy sleeper suit and suede slippers.

There’s even a vanity corner with mirror and drawer at every seat, to make freshening up a more personal experience.

These facilities are available only on selected flights between Singapore and Auckland, Barcelona, Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Melbourne, Milan, Moscow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney and Zurich.

Significant among other entertainment includes a personal 23 inch LCD screen with 1280 x 768 pixels, the highest resolution in the sky, gives you sharper images. Combined with surround sound and the latest in noise-cancelling headphone technology, it all adds up to a unique cinematic experience.

Also Singapore Airlines’ exclusive in-flight meal service allows young passengers (2-11 years) travelling in First and Business class to select as close as 24 hours prior to flight departure their favourite dish from a delicious mouth-watering meals created just for them.

Emirates Terminal 3 has arrived

Emirates moved lock, stock and barrel to its new home at Emirates Terminal 3 - Dubai International last week, thrilling more than a million passengers who have explored and made this ultra-luxurious, colossal facility their own lifestyle destination.

Emirates Terminal 3 is proving to be the new style statement, now stamped with the seal of success. By November 18, more than 500,000 passengers had flown from the terminal to Emirates’ six-continent, 101-destination network and experienced the convenient check-in options, restaurants and cafes, shopping, premium lounges, hotels, spas and entertainment.

An equal number of arriving passengers have been awestruck by the massive baggage hall with 18 baggage carousels, including four for outsized luggage, paid concierge and baggage storage services that all combine to provide a quick and easy getaway.

President Emirates Airline Tim Clark said: “Our operations at Emirates Terminal 3 have been an unmitigated success, thanks to a well-orchestrated, phased move; strong collaborative effort by all stakeholders; and the unstinting support of our passengers.”

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said, “The true measure of our success lies in the comfort and happiness of our customers; and the customer feedback on Terminal 3 is very positive.”

Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International is designed for optimum travelling comfort. The underground terminal is located directly beneath the taxiways/aprons making it closer to the boarding gates.

Dubai Duty Free experienced brisk sales and received rave reviews throughout this period.

Interesting facts - the first five weeks at Emirates Terminal 3:

* Handled more than 5,400 flights, one million passengers - arrivals and departures - and more than 500,000 pieces of luggage.

* Concierge services: Around 700 customers daily, charged at Dhs 20 per trolley.

* Baggage storage: Around 50 customers daily. Ideal for passengers on business and brief stopovers the service is charged at Dhs 20 per bag for 12 hours.

* Online Check-in: 26,000 passengers used the option. * Self Service Kiosks: 20,500 passengers including 6,800 who checked-in baggage.

* Unaccompanied Minors Lounge hosted nearly 370 children travelling alone.

Prices slashed on SriLankan Holiday’s

Following the tremendous success of its post-Olympics special holiday package to China and of course in celebration of the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festive season, SriLankan holidays has slashed prices on its Beijing tour by over Rs. 20, 000.

The exciting and all-inclusive package to Beijing is leisurely spread over five nights and sox days and brings you the glorious wonders of ancient China cheek by jowl with its vibrant and futuristic modernity.

The SriLankan Holidays ‘Beijing Cultural Package’ offers family holiday makers the unique and never-to-be-repeated opportunity of soaking up, first hand, the glories of major attractions like the Olympic sites where history was made and re-made.

General Manager, SriLankan Holidays Amith Sumanapala said these exclusive promotional offers were being made available especially to coincide with the forthcoming festive season.

“The 2008 Beijing Olympics and its record breaking historic moments are now frozen in history for the next four years as visitors from around the world have begun converging on Beijing for a closer look at the famous Olympic sites.”