Budget airline, Mihin Lanka, has decided to withdraw
its flights on the Colombo-Tiruchi-Colombo sector effective June 1 on
account of a steep fall in load factor of the flights.
The
anti-Sri Lankan government protests on the Eelam issue here and the
travel advisory issued by the island nation asking its nationals to
avoid travel to Tamil Nadu are cited as the reasons for the fall in
incoming passengers from Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan pilgrims travelling to
Velankanni and Thanjavur have been attacked by pro-Eelam activists in
recent months.
The airline operates four flights a
week on the Colombo-Tiruchi-Colombo sector. S.K.Mittal, Executive
Director, Translanka Air Travels, Tamil Nadu, the general sales agent
(GSA) of Mihin Lanka, told The Hindu that the airline has decided
to withdraw all the four flights to Tiruchi, effective June 1,
following a drop in the load factor. However, the airline has not said
whether the flights are being withdrawn temporarily or it is a permanent
move.
