Three new routes for Mihin

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Sri Lanka's only budget airline, Mihin Lanka created a unique landmark in the Sri Lanka aviation history when they launched direct flights to both Jakarta and Dhaka.

Mihin is the only airline to operate direct flights to these two destinations.

In addition Mihin have also commenced direct flights to Maldives from yesterday. The three new destinations for the budget airline would be serviced thrice a week. The airline would use the new Franch manufactured, 210 seater A-321 aircraft which was flown in from Ireland last Wednesday for the three new sectors.

"This is a new aircraft manufactured in 2007 and it would be operated on a dry lease," said CEO of Mihin Lanka Kapila Chandrasena.

He said that the response from the three new destinations is overwhelming and they are happy. He said both Jakarta-Colombo and Dhaka- Colombo flights are running to capacity as the passengers are taking connections to Middle East from Colombo.

He said that they are currently working to increase the traffic to Jakarta and hope to work with tour operators since both countries are interested in this regard. He said that many passengers use the Male flight to take a side trip to Colombo and it too is very viable. Due to Mihin launching direct flights other airlines taking off from Colombo specially SriLankan would be benefited as they would get a new transit market.

"This would also work vice versa as Mihin is the only airline that services both Dhaka and Jakarta." Commenting on the aircraft he said that it is one of the modern aircraft operating in Sri Lanka and they bargained for this aircraft with passenger safety in mind.

"We also may be the only budget airline that serve a veg and non veg hot meal onboard for long haul destinations."

The onboard duty free facility too has been included for the new destinations.

Mihin Lanka created in 2007 to cater to low cost air transportation to the travelling public also fly to Dubai, Gaya, Tiruchirapalli, Varanasi and Kuwait. In Sri Lanka the airline has more than 100 active agents out of which 75 are registered with us and actively promote the services.