Mihin Lanka nets over Rs. 1.2 m profit

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Sri Lanka’s budget airline Mihin Lanka, earned over Rs. 1.2 million profit last month for the first time after it was set up.

The revenue the airline received from its Buddhist circuit routes to Bodhigaya and Baranas added to its profits. The airline hopes to maintain this trend in the future too and would not call for funds from the Treasury from next year.

Mihin Lanka is planning to operate two additional fights to Dhaka and the Maldives from next month to cater mainly to the student market and Sri Lankan expatriates.

Mihin hopes to acquire a new 156-seater aircraft for the purpose from a Malaysian based company to replace the current, A320 aircraft leased out from SriLankan Airlines.

This would enable the airline to have additional flying hours for new destinations. The new aircraft has been used for six years and is currently undergoing its final tests in Malaysia. It would then be flown to India for additional flying tests and is expected to be ready by early next month.

Mihin operates a Sunday flight to Bodhigaya and a Wednesday flight to Baranas with both flights operating on a 100 percent seat factor. “As we have received many bookings for a special Buddhist ceremony in Baranas, on October 28, we have decided to operate three flights on this day including a charter flight from SriLankan,” said Manager, Government and Public Affairs Division, Gamini Abeywardane.