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| Sunday, 12 May 2002 |
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SriLankan
to launch flights to Bangalore
SriLankan Airlines has announced the launch of services to Bangalore from the winter 2002 season, subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement with Indian Airlines. At recent bilateral talks with Indian Aviation Authorities in New Delhi, Sri Lankan aviation authorities obtained rights for SriLankan Airlines to fly thrice a week to Bangalore in Karnataka state in southern India, provided the airline also operates to Buddha Gaya, in Bihar in central India. SriLankan will therefore operate an extra service to New Delhi in combination with Buddha Gaya from winter. The Colombo/New Delhi/Buddha Gaya service will be a seasonal service operating during the winter season (between October and March). Buddha Gaya is sacred to Buddhists because it is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and the religion of the majority in Sri Lanka is Buddhism. SriLankan's Head of Commercial G. T. Jeyaseelan said: "We have a demand for travel to Bangalore for leisure, business and shopping and pilgrimages (to Puttapathy). We are glad to be able to help Sri Lankan Buddhists to travel on pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya, as well as promote travel to this sacred city for Buddhists in other countries too." At present the airport at Buddha Gaya is not ready for handling international air travel. Therefore, SriLankan Airlines will have to work out the modalities of operating there before commencing services. Sri Lankan aviation authorities also obtained rights for SriLankan Airlines to fly an additional service to Trichy subject to the conclusion of a commercial agreement with Indian Airlines. Of all the destinations on its route network, SriLankan offers the most number of services to neighbouring India. The airline flies to five Indian destinations - New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Trichy and Trivandrum. SriLankan at present offers three services each week to New Delhi and Mumbai, 12 to Chennai, a daily service to Trivandrum and four to Trichy. |
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