Financial Times

Local carriers eye India
All three domestic airline operators have expressed interest in performing international passenger flights and have sought permission from the Civil Aviation Authority, mainly to fly to Indian destinations.

Director General of Civil Aviation H.M.C. Nimalsiri said the authority has had "informal discussions" with the national carrier SriLankan Airlines on allowing other carriers to operate international flights. "There has not been any major objection (from SriLankan Airlines) for granting rights for charter operations," he said.

Lion Air has asked for permission to operate charter flights to Puttarpathy in India and Sharjah in the Gulf, and to Melbourne, Athens and Amsterdam on schedule.
Serendib Express has also asked to be allowed to operate charter flights to Puttarpathy while Expo Aviation has requested a number of destinations in India for charter flights.

All three airlines currently operate several weekly flights to Jaffna and are also planning to extend their flights to other local destinations as well following the lifting of restrictions imposed because of the Eelam war.

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