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Last Updated : 2024-04-20 09:39:00
Global Saturday, 14 February 2015 04:20 PM
not to be pessimistic but what happens "if" trouble brews again in our peaceful island and all these other airlines ditch us like rats leaving a sinking ship? How do we get these slots again? What about the taxi driver, the thambili seller to name a few who make a living off the passenger brought in by the airline? Our island needs an airline not 2, with no political interference, with the good management team everything is possible. I suppose like all armchair critics we all have a bit of tunnel vision.
Thusitha Saturday, 14 February 2015 06:25 PM
Please read
Lima Monday, 16 February 2015 10:06 PM
Mr. De Alwis makes an interesting argument as to why it is imperative to cut costs and rationalize routes at Sri Lankan Airlines. While I fully agree that an accumulated loss of a billion dollars at the national carrier over the last decade is unsustainable for country like Sri Lanka to bear, I disagree with his contention that Sri Lankan should be reduced to the status of a regional feeder airline to be viable.In a country which has only one viable port of entry, it is essential that there be a national carrier to protect Sri Lankas strategic interests. During the aftermath of the tsunami SriLankan aircraft flew inbound with empty cabins and packed cargo holds, ferrying essential supplies. Similarly, after the 2001 attack on BIA, Sri Lankan maintained a link to the outside world, whereas other airlines shied away from flying to Colombo citing safety concerns.I also strongly disagree with Mr. De Alwis contention that when traveling with the big three in the Middle East (ME3), transiting in Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Doha is more pleasurable than flying. I personally try my best to avoid these over-crowded transit hubs with their tacky shopping-mall ambiance. I have no issue with paying a little more to bypass this zoo and take a non-stop Sri Lankan flight from Europe. There are many other enlightened passengers traveling to Sri Lanka and the Maldives who would prefer not to support the ME3 and their horrendous labour practices and support the national carrier instead. Mr. De Alwis states Even the modest traveler in coach class would prefer an Aircraft that has on-board showers! I for one disagree. If traveling on an Emirates A380 (the only commercial aircraft to have on-board showers) I would not care about the showers as they are only for passengers in first class. In fact, I personally avoid Emirates as their 777 aircraft (the workhorse of their longhaul fleet) are 10-abreast in Economy with the economy passengers packed in like sardines in a can. The unfair labour practices of the ME3, the hidden subsidies they receive from their governments, their practice of capacity dumping are beyond the scope of this letter. While I agree with Mr. De Alwis that waste at Sri Lankan must be eliminated and costs must be reduced, instead of surrendering a significant region to the ME3, Sri Lankan should compete head on with them and win back their market share. If the aircraft are modern, schedules are adhered to, and safety is maintained, and if the superb inflight service that Air Lanka/Sri Lankan was once known for, is brought back, I see no reason why Sri Lankan should not be the preferred airline to travel to South Asia from any part of the world.
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