Hybrid Aviations to begin air services in 2014

Shirajiv Sirimane

Hybrid Aviations (PVT) Limited would commence domestic air services from early next year. This is a new enterprise launched by Wickramarachchi & Co, one of the pioneers in the field of ophthalmology and audiology.

CEO, Dr. J. M. Wickramarachchi, speaking to Daily News Business said that they would use a leased brand new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft which could carry 12 passengers for this purpose. “We will add another ATR 72-500 aircraft mid next year.”

Branded as Air Hybrid the new service would primarily focus on exploiting benefits from the new Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. “We have also plans to go regional and initially look at South Asian destinations,” he said.

Wickramarachchi said with the tourism sector booming, there would be an increased demand for domestic air travel despite Sri Lanka being a small country. He said that there were many foreign tourists especially from the CIS countries who would prefer touching down at the MRIA.

“These tourists like to travel to the East coast and we are looking at offering them special packages.”

He said that they would also offer their three star resort Suwaya Villa, in Tangalle for this market.

The hotel offers 25 rooms in 15 separate bungalows to cater to the high-end market. He also said that there was also a growing segment of business travellers who prefer to use domestic flights and they would also look at this segment.

Wickramarachchi & Co, is also looking to invest around Rs. 600 million for this diversification. “We also have a plan to list in the Colombo Stock Exchange.”

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has also accepted applications of Hybrid Aviations (PVT) Limited to launch local operations.

Asked how he was going to face competition by other domestic airlines, he said that he would not compete with them, but would work with them.

He said that the cargo market was also growing and this segment too would offer them additional revenue.