Millennium Airlines to strengthen wings

Millennium Airlines will invest $ 2-3 million on a Bell 407, six-seater helicopter this year, said Millennium Airlines, Vice Chairman, Suren R. Mirchandani. He said that the helicopter will carry six passengers in VIP ‘club seating’ configuration and added that it will be the most advanced civilian helicopter in the country.

Millennium Airlines formerly known as Deccan Aviation was the first domestic airline to commence operations in 2004 following the ban on domestic air operations imposed in 1995 due to security reasons, being lifted.Mirchandani said that since then Millennium Airlines has grown to be a leading domestic airline operator with the longest experience as an air service provider.

“We are the only airline which operates all types of aircraft such as helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and sea planes”, he said.Millennium Airlines is the only charter operator to all domestic and international airports in the country.

“We operate to all waterways in the country and to over 400 helipads,” Mirchandani said.

Millennium Airlines has flown over 26,000 passengers to-date. It operates flights to the South and from the South to the hill country which takes over seven hours to travel by road.

Mirchandani said that there has been a steady increase in demand for services since 2004. The Millennium Airlines passengers comprise foreign and corporate travellers.

The airline has operated 100 flights a year to Galle and around 50 to the hill country.

Millennium Airlines which is a joint venture with Millennium Aero Singapore is a company of the Favourite Group. It operates under the trade name Simplifly.

Operation of State-owned airlines is a major challenge to private airline operators. Private air service operators cannot compete with the low-cost services provided by the State.

“There should be a level playing field between the private and public sector to develop the industry,” he said.