18 March 2021 09:30 am
FitsAir, formerly known as ExpoAir, this week welcomed its first Airbus A320-232, which will be inducted to its fleet as a freighter, to support the local exporters and government’s vision to make Sri Lanka an exporting powerhouse.
Fits Aviation is a member of Aberdeen Holdings Group of Companies, owned by the Kassim family, the former majority shareholder of Expolanka Holdings PLC.
Once its seats are removed and converted to a freighter, the aircraft is capable of carrying 16 tonnes of cargo. The second Airbus A320-232 is expected to join the FitsAir fleet in the third week of April. As the first private operator to receive an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority back in 1997, FitsAir’s plans for the next two years include the induction of more Airbus A320 and A321 type of aircraft and two Airbus A330 type of aircraft for the carriage of cargo.
The airline also carries out domestic air passenger operations with its two Cessna-208 aircraft and would soon offer medical evacuation services on these aircraft.
Also, supporting the government’s initiative in developing Jaffna and Ratmalana airports as international airports, Fits Aviation has invested in its own 70-seater ATR-72 aircraft for the convenience of the passengers, who will have access from these two airports directly to the Maldives and popular South Indian airports. The company expects to recommence this operation as the COVID-19 travel requirements are revised for the ease of passengers. Fits Aviation also has its own flight academy, FitsAir Flight Academy (FAFA), which offers training of ab-initio pilots to international airline standards, which would include training on Airbus A-320 aircraft, by a very experienced group of flight instructors.