SriLankan cancels flights to Mattala airport

17 January 2015 08:03 am - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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SriLankan Airlines has decided to cancel its flights to and via Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport, Mattala from February 9, onwards.

On the direction of the State Minister of Aviation Faizer Mustapha, SriLankan Airlines,has re-deployed its capacity and adjusted its scheduled operations to focus on more commercially sustainable services, the SriLankan said in a statement.

“The immediate schedule changes which will see the airline rationalising its scheduled operations to and via MRIA and enhancing capacity to other high demand Middle East destinations,whilereducing capacity to underperforming routes such as Moscow.This translates to an annual bottom line improvement of approximately USD 18 Mn,” it said.

The stamen further said that while the airline has already achieved a significant improvement in its financial performance for the current financial year, it is of the view that these commercially driven initiatives will help the airline to further improve the financial performance in the near term while continuing to deliver affordable travel options to its customers.

On the instructions of the Minister, in the medium term, the airline isalso critically reviewing its entire route network, again with a view to being more commercially and bottom-line focused, it added.

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Comments - 18

Citizen Perera Saturday, 17 January 2015 04:09 PM

Can use the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport at Mattala as a 03 Wheeler stand. via DM Android App

sally mohamed Monday, 19 January 2015 11:37 AM

Mr. suranjith first of all plan to put up an airport in Hambantota is an idiotic decision. Ideal place for the second Airport is either northern or eastern part of our Island. But considering the security risk we could have put it up either in Anuradhapura/ Polonnarowa But the sea port in Hambantota will be a good investmest in the future.

nihar Saturday, 17 January 2015 08:52 PM

Mattala Air port can be used to bring in Cargo planes direct to HBNT and can be used to transport stuff to southern most part of srilanka or SE of srilanka which other wise would need a long and tedious journey all the way from Katunayake Air base via road. We need to find a solution collectively to put this shmuck of an Airport to use along with the Hambantota Port. No point and flogging the dead horse repeatedly. We all know both these projects represent how poor MR was in startegic approach to the SL economy.

sri Saturday, 17 January 2015 08:44 PM

Correct. Mihin air is a white elephant and also big burden to the economy,SriLanakan airlines is running at a big loss thought it states it has improved.

Rufus Norton Saturday, 17 January 2015 08:29 PM

Mihin Air was established due to the ego of one individual who wanted to build a personality cult. Now this has been attached to Sri Lankan to add to the heavy losses.

Eagle1 Saturday, 17 January 2015 07:45 PM

Good for UL. In these times honest decisions have to be made. I do not think that VCBI is operating at over capacity about 100 movements a day. Contrast that with LHR about 2000 movements no wonder LGW is a fantastic backup airport in the UK. It is sad that so much of the natural habitat was lost on a whim. This is also good time for UL to build on the profits and make sure the staff are well taken care of. MRIA can always serve for the airforce and also a training base for SL and foreign pilots, it is in an area without much traffic so as a training airport hopefully will also bring in added revenue.

Gihan perera Saturday, 17 January 2015 06:33 PM

We spend millions of money for that project. who.s responsible for this kind of work.MR, answer this question!

sabreen Saturday, 17 January 2015 06:05 PM

well done Mr. Faizer

de silva Saturday, 17 January 2015 04:25 PM

I think we do not need d MIHIN AIR at all and what about the over staff with Srilankan Airlines.

Achcharu Saturday, 17 January 2015 01:58 PM

Best News to UL in the last four years. Now Please check the viability of Mihin, and its liabilities to Srilankan and Civil Aviation please

suranjith lal Saturday, 17 January 2015 03:41 PM

i do not agree with decision i voted my3 though Sri lankan should operate atleast a weekly flight from Mattala to middle eastern countries and maintain market building process . you cannot get any Air port to perform miracles within a year. example massive second international Airport Dubai (Al maktoum Air port) has constructed with 3 runways 45 kms away from the present Dubai international Airport is same as Mattala for the last one year mostly cargo plans are operating from there. yet they know another 5 years time it will yield

CMB Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:54 PM

Bravo Mr. Faizer

Peacock Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:43 PM

The most sensible decision one could ever take. Better now than it is too late.

John Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:35 PM

THANK GOD OUR WILD LIFE WILL RETURN SOON WHERE THEY BELONG......HOPEFULLY MIHIN WILL FOLLOW SOONER....

gobbaya Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:28 PM

mattala can be used for bird watching....next is the water pond in hambantota via DM Android App

Waco Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:10 PM

Give it to Air Force.

Waco Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:08 PM

If the Mattala Terminal Building and Ewuipments are not used, they will get ruined. These need to be maintained on daily / regular basis.

Prakash Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:04 PM

We should not get into an era where ministers take decisions. Decisions sould be based on pure rational in this case commercial.

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SriLankan cancels flights to Mattala airport

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