204 Lankan flights stopped for refuelling at Thiruvananthapuram airport

20 August 2022 07:17 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Four more international flights from Sri Lanka had a stopover at Thiruvananthapuram airport for refuelling on Friday. Of them, three flights, operated by SriLankan Airlines, then proceeded to Melbourne, Sydney and Paris, while the fourth, an AirArabia flight, left for Sharjah.

Since May 27, 204 flights from the crisis-hit island nation have made technical landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport owing to the scarcity of fuel back home. Most of the arriving flights are the ones operated by SriLankan Airlines, the official flag carrier of the neighbouring country. The stopovers have helped Thiruvananthapuram airport earn around `1.5 crore in landing fees alone. This excludes refuelling revenue, the new Indian Express reported.

Of the 204 flights that stopped at Thiruvananthapuram, 130 were SriLankan Airlines aircraft bound to destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Paris and Frankfurt, 11 were Flydubai flights to Dubai, 45 were Air Arabia flights bound for Sharjah, nine Oman Air flights bound for Muscat, seven Gulf Air flights bound for Bahrain and one flight each of Emirates and Fits Voyage.

Sources said the airport is considering this as an opportunity to facilitate and help the struggling island nation. Recently, flights from Colombo started using Kochi airport for technical landings and refuelling too.

Comments - 17

Seqi Saturday, 20 August 2022 07:45 PM

This is good business acumen. One man's misfortune is anothers chance to do well. Sensible neighbour's.

Mahila Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:43 AM

SEQI, Charity as any other has its limits??! What else you say, they do? Refuse landing rights for the flights?? They are unable to refuel in Colombo, which may be cheaper and saves fuel in Landing/take-off at Thiruvananthapuram, after take-off from Colombo?? Solely, because of Inept management of Fiscal Policy and resultant shortage of fuel in SL??!! Could we fault the neighbouring country for our faults of "Looting", mentality?

Kumar Saturday, 20 August 2022 08:26 PM

Besides the cost of fuel, the airline pays landing and handling fees. That airport will make lots of money and Sri Lankan people will be subsidizing this operation. Airline can't attract passenger if they charge too much.

Kumar Monday, 22 August 2022 09:01 AM

Don't come here and stay away if its not profitable to you. Don't complain about India or others for your misdeeds.

Independent Saturday, 20 August 2022 10:41 PM

Create more issues in SL through you intelligence agencies then more profit for you. Just like you did in the past with LTTE.

Kumara Saturday, 20 August 2022 11:18 PM

But Chinese Spy ship is refueling at Hampanthota harbour.

Amaran Sunday, 21 August 2022 12:34 AM

Why cannot they STOP in CHINA for refuelling?

Iwazaru Sunday, 21 August 2022 01:55 AM

This also inconveniences the passengers as it may take over 4 hours for the refuelling include the time to land and takeoff.

India business is for profit, not charity Sunday, 21 August 2022 09:14 AM

The Indian Thiruvananthapuram airport profit driven business. To, somehow see it will give up potential profits for India for the sake of Sri Lanka is delusional. All the credit line and other assistance provided by India is meant to give them greater profits, and really just investment with low risk. The Indian press would laugh if the Indian businesses involved with providing facilities to us in anyway were doing it for benevolent reasons. Second last sentence in the article is seeming like a way to hoodwink us as to what' the real motivations are. Airport is not charitable in anyway. It's just business action for profit.

Sammy Sunday, 21 August 2022 10:30 AM

There many comments decrying the.Indian assistance and even foolishly stating India to be the cause of Sri Lanka's current economic problems and passing the buck, as if the Sri Lankan politicians and bureaucrats are not to be blamed and add to this the Chinese debt. Where is the gratitude? Of course no airport is going to offer their services for free and inability to refuel aircraft on their own soil is Sri Lanka's making and not India's. Refuelling at any other outside location other than Trivandrum would cost Sri Lanka more. Some sense of entitlement some of these Sri Lankans have even in the midst of a crisis.

bipin joshi Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:07 AM

India is not inviting these aircrafts for refueling. Please do not send them to India. We do not need to profit from your aircrafts. Similarly, if Sri Lankans did not like Indian help of money and material, they should have refused to receive the help. No one forced SL to accept the help!

Ranjan G Sunday, 21 August 2022 11:33 AM

What a disaster for our National carrier ?

Rajeev Ranjan Sunday, 21 August 2022 02:51 PM

Comments clearly shows how SL people are insensible to their problems. Hope they will ask why China cannot refuel their plains or why a ship with food and fuel are not docking at Hambantota Seaport? 1971 they supported Pakistan to India with giving them refuelling rights, India off-course retaliated by supporting Tamil rebels. Is India responsible for the Tamil or Hindu's discrimination in ur country?

No other nearby airports with fuel Sunday, 21 August 2022 03:50 PM

@Amaran China is a bit too far away. Even Bangladesh and Pakistan are too far, compared to the nearest airport in India willing to provide the service (for money).

Mahila Sunday, 21 August 2022 10:12 PM

No other nearby airports with fuel, "130 were Srilankan Airlines aircraft bound to destinations including Melbourne, Sydney"!!! Why?? Why not refuel in BIA - 'cheapest fuel' in South Asia, when commencing journey, especially MLB/SYD? Wata Wandanawak?? No wonder, 1st class loss making airline!!! Srilankan Airlines!! Wasteful CMB/Thiruvananthapuram/MLB/SYD??!! "Parangiya Kotte Giyaawage"??!! Destination Matara, GOING Trincomalee?? Why? Oh Why?? Crazy Minds!!! Why not Singapore? EXPENSIVE??!

Prasath Sunday, 21 August 2022 10:22 PM

India helped us at the time of our need, which we don't forget. Why state the obvious, Indian airports are business which generate profit, no-one can expect the airport to sell fuel at cost. We need to learn from Indian airport authorities on how to run a business profitably .

Sathisb Monday, 22 August 2022 08:26 AM

Reading all anti-India comments makes me feel bad that SL does not deserve any help from India. Blaming India for LTTE is ridiculous, it is result of racial discrimination by Sri Lankan politicians and social system. 13th amendment is the only solution to save the country from falling apart. Else, be ready for a civil war.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

204 Lankan flights stopped for refuelling at Thiruvananthapuram airport

Comments - 17

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Proposed wage hike Estate workers appreciated or trapped in election promise?

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Most Viewed in News

Supreme Court rules Diana Gamage ineligible for parliamentary seat

Foreigner injured after falling from Lotus tower

Diana under immigration radar for overstaying visa since 2014

Concessionary vehicle permits: MPs have their way, ignoring economic crisis

A leading hotel in Derby, UK sold to Sri Lankan company

Sri Lanka to overhaul visa issuance process

MIRROR CRICKET

'You won’t see me for a while' – Virat Kohli hints at post-retirement plans

West Indies Women to tour Sri Lanka for T20I series

Nepal’s ex-cricket captain acquitted of rape on appeal

Shakib and Hasaranga share top spot in T20 all-rounder rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Government to evoke 2007 circular to take action against non academics on strike

STF officer’s endeavor lit up school children

Sri Lankans in Russian-Ukraine war: Specialized delegation to visit Russia

Duminda’s case against Wijeyadasa’s appointment as SLFP Chairman dismissed

Ronaldo tops highest-paid athlete list - Forbes

Warm-up fixtures announced for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Eshan Pieris secures silver class victory at GT World Challenge Asia Round 4 in Thailand

Asian Netball Tourney put off by a few weeks