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Local airlines allowed charter flights

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided to permit individual operators to carry out international charter flights from this year with a view to liberalise Sri Lankan aviation,.

Accordingly, new airlines will be allowed to commence international services from Sri Lanka to neighbouring countries, as opposed to the present system where only one operator is permitted to carry out international services. CAA Executive Director H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Daily News yesterday that the decision was taken as part of the Government's policy to adopt an Open Skies policy in Sri Lanka.

"Although we have several operators conducting flights to local destinations today, access to international routes has been limited to SriLankan Airlines (linked to Emirates). But this initiative will remove such restrictions and permit individual operators to carry out international charter flights as well," he said.

Nimalsiri said that all present domestic operators (Serendib, LionAir and ExpoAviation) have expressed interest in commencing flights to international destinations. "The date of commencement is for them to decide," he added.

Open Skies has been identified as the new aviation policy of the Government with necessary safeguards to ensure the safety of flights while maintaining a level playing field.

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