Mihin Lanka decides to stop Trichy operations

Mihin Lanka, which operates four flights every week from Trichy to Colombo, has decided to stop operations from June 1. S K Mittal, executive director of Translaka, the Chennai-based general sales agency (GSA) for the airline, said the falling tourist traffic between Colombo and Trichy had forced the decision. "We have taken a decision to ground the four flights to Colombo because of lack of patronage on this sector," said Mittal.

However, sources said the recent attacks on Sri Lankan tourists in Trichy region could have prompted the move. The decision will affect exports to Europe and West Asia from the region, which pass through Colombo. It also connects Trichy with Sharjah and Bahrain.

The Sri Lankan airline operates 18 services every week from Trichy to Colombo whereas no Indian airline connects the two cities.

Travel between Trichy and the island nation has been hit since Sri Lankan pilgrims visiting shrines in the region were targeted in Thanjavur in the second week of September last year. A proposal to have three more flights from October last year was shelved following the attack. Colombo had, in the aftermath of the attack, issued an advisory cautioning its citizens visiting Tamil Nadu.

Colombo is connected by air to 10 Indian cities including Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Madurai, Varanasi, and Gaya, and the Trichy-Colombo is considered the second busiest route, next only to Chennai. Exporters point this out and say the decision to ground Mihin Lanka flights from the city could only be political.

A source at the airport authority said many traders had stopped flying to Colombo from Trichy since customs officials began a check on large amount of cargo being carried as personal baggage. The airport immigration too has tightened its check on passenger movement of late.

The Sri Lankan airline is a boon for Gulf-bound passengers. Except for a daily flight to Dubai operated by Air India Express, the Lankan airline alone connects Trichy with West Asian capitals. Air India Express had drastically cut down flights from a peak in 2011 winter when it flew passengers daily from Trichy to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and twice a week to Abu Dhabi. After AirAsia began operations in 2007, Trichy airport became an LCC entry point for the first time, benefiting the large number of people who work in South-East Asian countries. Air India Express has since stopped all its operations.