[ad#200×200] Mihin Lanka’s inaugural flight looks set to take off on January 1 (2009). A spate of operational issues caused the flight to Dubai to be postponed twice in December, airline sources said.
The approval from the Indian Aviation Authority (IAA) had been received in writing after Mihin Lanka’s Chairman Raja Edirisuriya flew to India last week to expedite the approval process.
The inaugural flight scheduled for December 21 had been postponed because the IAA was delaying signing the route facility license without enabling Mihin to fly over India, despite the payment going via the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The Boeing 737-800 acquired from Trans Avia France FAS on a wet lease is due to arrive over the week end. It is likely to be flown in from France on December 29, sources added.
Mihin Lanka was hoping to commence operations on January 1 with the inaugural flight to Dubai.
The inaugural flight was first scheduled for December 15, but finalising schedules and payments had caused it to be postponed, sources said.
Flights to Indian destinations, Trivandrum and Trichy are to commence soon after the inaugural flight.
Flights to Buddha Gaya are expected to commence from 15th February.
News.lk