Lanka's private international airline approvals stalled

Promoters of three private international airlines in Sri Lanka are running into stormy weather with authorities saying provisional approvals are no longer in effect, while a state-owned carrier completed a test run this week.
State-owned Mihin Air completed a test flight to India this week to gain a license, using a third party aircraft. Sri Lanka earlier tentatively cleared three local firms -- Holiday Air, Expo Aviation and Deccan Air -- to fly international routes subject to technical clearance.
But the three failed to meet the deadlines, with the Civil Aviation Authority saying their offer has since lapsed.
However, officials of the three budget carriers, remained confident that they still had a strong case for a license.
But Deccan Aviation chief Suren Mirchandani said his company preferred to remain on the sidelines for the moment. Mirchandani's firm currently runs a local helicopter service.
A Mihin Air flight flew to India's southern city of Thiruvananthapuram from the island's sole international airport late Sunday and returned around midnight, airport officials said.
07/03/07 Lanka Business Online, Sri Lanka

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Categories: Foreign Mar 2007