Date:30/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/30/stories/2007033001961100.htm

Back SriLankan Airlines adding fuel surcharge from April 1

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram March 29 From April 1 this year, SriLankan Airlines will incorporate the fuel surcharge into the airfare.

The airline will implement this change in tickets issued in most destinations, including India, said Mr Samantha Nagahawatte, Manager-Kerala, SriLankan Airlines. This measure will help introduce greater clarity, simplicity and transparency when airfares are presented to customers. Government and airport taxes will, however, continue to be collected separately, he added.

Leisure travel

In India, the airline is focusing on promoting leisure travel to Sri Lanka, he said. As part of this effort, the airline has created a separate division — SriLankan Holidays — to cater to leisure travellers. Ms Asha Subramanian, Sales Manager-Thiruvananthapuram, said SriLankan Holidays offers travel packages to Sri Lanka, Maldives and East Asian destinations, as well as packages for tourists visiting India.

Over the past two years, Indians have become the largest group of international visitors to Sri Lanka, Mr Nagahawatte said. Last year, 128,370 Indians visited Sir Lanka, representing a 13 per cent increase over 2005. The response in India to the SriLankan Holidays packages has been very good, especially in cities such as Mumbai, he said.

The airline, which currently operates 95 flights a week to 10 destinations in India, is looking at operating more flights to existing destinations and also starting flights to several new destinations, Mr Nagahawatte said. Globally, it operates flights to 51 destinations in 28 countries.