Mihin Lanka to fly from Trichy

COLOMBO: Mihin Lanka Ltd, will resume operations from mid July. The airline is hoping to fly to five destinations, Trivandrum, Trichy, Dubai, Singapore and the Maldives.

Mihin CEO Sajin Vass Gunawardane said yesterday they are hoping to dry lease an A320 aircraft from France to re-launch their operations. "We have already advertised to recruit pilots and cabin crew," he said.

The CEO said the lease would allow the airline to save over Rs. 50 million a month.

He said that with the escalating global oil prices none of the newly floated airlines could make profits in a short time.

"This was the reason as to why Mihin Lanka too could not make profits," he said. He said that a new business development strategy has been designed with the Merchant Bank for the rollout plan of the airline.

He also said that the SriLankan Airlines then under the Emirates management gave the cold shoulder to Mihin.

Gunawardane said that they had to incur high ground handling charges at the Colombo Airport under the Emirates management. "To overcome this we have now imported equipment and are in a position to have our own ground handling."

He said the government floated the airline mainly to make flying more affordable for the public. "The intention is still there and this is why we are going to operate the airline after a brief period," he said.

Despite Mihin suspending operations for brief period we are getting over 300 calls per day, which shows that the public is still keen for a budget airline, he added.