Mihin Lanka flies to new destinations

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka's national budget airline will commence direct flights to Djakarta, Dacca and the Maldives from December 1.

CEO of Mihin Lanka, Kapila Chandrasena said that they will lease a new A321 aircraft for this operation. "The aircraft which has a seating capacity for 240 is due next month," he said.

The A321 airbus manufactured three years ago would be obtained on a three year dry lease which would be financially viable. Local pilots and crew would be manning the aircraft.

The airline will operate a thrice a week frequency for Dacca (via Male) and Djakarta while there would be four flights a week to the Maldives. Currently there are no direct flights to both these destinations and passengers have to either fly to Bangkok, Singapore or Gulf to take connecting flights.

He said that the regions airline growth is increasing by over 25 percent and this is the reason they decided to launch flights to these destinations.

"In addition there are also a lot of Sri Lankan businessmen, expatriates and students in Bangladesh and we want to service them as well," he said.

Mihin Lanka also has the Middle East migrant workforce in mind when these operations are being launched. Mihin Lanka which is the brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide budget travels for local expatriates and the religious pilgrims currently flies to Kuwait, Dubai and Indian destinations.

Mihin Lanka is one of the budget airlines that provides on board meals.