Second airliner to start its operation between Madurai and Colombo
“Mihin flies you to a
rich culture with onward connection to exciting destinations” reads a
small advertisement board displayed at the Madurai airport where the
inaugural Colombo-Madurai flight of Mihin Lanka landed on Friday.
The
board displayed the unique selling proposition (USP) of Sri Lanka’s
low-fare airline which boasts of providing connecting flights to various
global destinations from the Colombo airport.
Mihin Lanka is the
second airliner, after Spicejet, to start its operation between Madurai
and Colombo. It will fly an Airbus A320 aircraft on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays.
Rohana Perera, Head of Commercial, Mihin Lanka,
said that its code-sharing services with SriLankan Airlines would help
passengers of Madurai to get connecting flights to various global
destinations with very less waiting time at the Colombo airport. He said
the Sabarimala season has attracted pilgrims from Sri Lanka to visit
Madurai. He added that Mihin Lanka was ready to increase the
thrice-a-week frequency depending upon the need.
The inaugural
flight landed in Madurai with 108 passengers. Ninety nine passengers
left for Colombo by the return flight. The flight lands in Madurai at
3.10 p.m. and leaves at 4.10 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays. On Wednesdays
arrival would be 3.25 p.m. and departure 4.25 p.m.
“Mihin Lanka
and Sri Lankan Airlines operate flights to five destinations between 6
p.m .to 6.30 p.m. every day from Colombo. The timings of Madurai-Colombo
flight service will be ideal for passengers from Madurai to take their
connecting flights to Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha and Muscat. Besides,
we operate a flight to Jeddah on Fridays,” said B. Prathapan, Manager
(Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), SriLankan Airlines. “The comfort of the
passengers, who books tickets to other international destinations, will
be taken care by us at the Colombo airport,” he added.
The
immediate benefit of the competition between airlines on the route is
that Spicejet that was allowing only 20 kg free baggage till recently
has increased it to 30 kg on the introduction of Mihin Lanka services,
past president of Madurai Travel Club, G. Vasudevan, said.
One of
the passengers, Mohammed Ibrahim Shah Babu, who arrived in Madurai from
Saudi Arabia with his family, was all happy about landing in Madurai
airport. “I am very happy to land in an international flight in my
town,” he said. Otherwise, he would have to undergo at least two hours
of road journey from Tiruchi airport to reach home.
Senior president of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S. Rethinavelu, demanded a cargo terminal facility at airport.
Airport
Director K. Sangaiah Pandian, V.T.K. Nayanar, Commissioner of Central
Excise and A.S. Meenalochani, Joint Commisioner of Central Excise,
president of Travel Club, Madurai, B.S.G. Mustafa, and N. Sriram of
Balika Travels, were among those who were present.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com
http://www.mihinlanka.com
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