More Sri Lankan flights to India

Sri Lanka will permit three domestic airlines to launch flights to India before they are allowed to operate on other international routes, the Civil Aviation Authority said on Tuesday.

The CAA gave the three airlines - domestic operators Expo Aviation and Deccan Air and new entrant Holiday Air, provisional licences for six months to fly to India.

The provisional licence opens up 18 potential destinations in India, with the airlines given the period of six months to satisfy CAA conditions, including adequate capital resources, trained personnel and aircraft on the ground.

Based on performance, other routes applied for by all operators, like Singapore, Bangkok, Male, Dhaka and destinations in the Middle East, are to be rolled out.

"Within six months, they will have to comply with all the requirements and if they can satisfy that, then other routes will be offered," H M C Nimalsiri, CAA director general said.

"If it's not satisfied, then the licence will be revoked," he added. Both regional and international routes are dominated by national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines that is partly-owned and fully managed by the Dubai-based Emirates airline.