HOW SINHALA AIRLINES CHEAT POOR TAMIL PASSENGERS TO JAFFNA...!!! COL-CHENNAI=12500,-RS,COL-JAFFNA=30000,-RS !!!

Private airlines fleecing public - JJ .........by Shamindra Ferdinando

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, MP/UNP, said that although private airlines which operate flights to Palaly now take a direct overland route, thereby making substantial savings on aviation fuel, the government had failed to review the fare structure.

He told The Island that a flight between Ratmalana and Palay lasted about 90 minutes as passenger aircraft took a circuitous route over the sea before approaching Palaly to avoid possible LTTE missile attacks. But now that flight would take about 45 minutes, he said, urging the government to revise the fare structure.

Of the two domestic operators, one charged Rs. 22,000 for a round trip and the other Rs. 30,000, he said. Responding to our queries, the MP said that he raised this issue with Parakkrama Dissanayake, the Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority and its Chief Executive Officer and received an assurance that action would be taken in this regard.

He said though the A9 road had been restored, but hadn’t been opened for regular civilian traffic. Even if the road was opened, there would be a demand for air passage from those who wanted to move between the peninsula and Colombo in comfort, the MP said. But domestic operators shouldn’t be allowed to fleece passengers, he said. He said though airport taxes had to be paid for two international airports, up and down ticket (SriLanka airlines) to Madras would cost Rs. 12,500 whereas Ratmalana-Palaly flight would cost double that amount. Nothing could be as ridiculous as this, he said.

He also urged the government to thwart unscrupulous elements from making a fast buck at the expense of those who were in an emergency to reach either Jaffna or Ratmalana.

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18.07.09 DAILYMIRROR.LK

Airfares to come down from next week

By Yohan Perera

Airfares from Colombo to Jaffna are to be reduced next week in the wake of a positive response received from the airline operators, the Ministry of Ports and Aviation said.

A spokesman for the Ministry told Daily Mirror that all details regarding the reductions including the new airfares would be announced next week.

According to sources airline operators have agreed to a reduction as the expenses they have to bear have been somewhat reduced after the completion of the war. The planes had to fly over the sea earlier and thereby had to travel longer distances following terrorist threats. However according to airline sources it has now become possible to fly over land and thereby reduce the distance the planes travel after the war ended. In addition other expenses such as insurance have also some what reduced according to them. “The reduction has been done after considering all these aspects,” they added.

The reduction in air fares comes after a series of discussions between the Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority Parakrama Dissanayake and domestic airline operators during the past few days. The Acting Director General was of the opinion that the current airfare from Jaffna to Colombo, which is Rs 22,000, was too high and should be reduced. However, airline operators have stated that the high cost of aviation fuel is a major issue while there are various other costs involved as well.

It was noted that the airfare from Chennai to Colombo was only Rs 12,000 whereas an air ticket from Colombo to Jaffna costs Rs 22,000.