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Ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO to steer low-cost competitor to SriLankan

27 Sep 2022

  • FITSAir enters Sri Lankan market saying local market requires ‘a second force’; eyes domestic operations by next year
  • Targets India, Maldives, Dubai destinations; recruits all Sri Lankan pilots 
  • Airlines to use BIA, Ratmalana, Jaffna airports; Mattala ‘out of focus’
  • SriLankan Chairman Pathirage says FitsAir ‘not a big competitor’
By Madhusha Thavapalakumar   The local aviation monopoly enjoyed by loss-making national carrier SriLankan Airlines ever since Mihin Lanka ceased its operations in October 2016 is to come to an end by next month with FitsAir – a new low-cost carrier that has former SriLankan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Murray Hill as its Vice President of Passenger Operations – planning to operate flights connecting Colombo with a few other destinations.    It should be noted that Hill was the CEO of SriLankan Airlines from March 1998 to December 2007, with Emirates appointing him to that role after its acquisition of SriLankan Airlines. Hill’s work permit was revoked by the Sri Lankan Government in 2007 when a Sri Lankan political entourage was refused seats on SriLankan Airlines.  At a briefing about FitsAir last morning (26), Hill stated that the airline is promoted by Fits Aviation, a member of the Aberdeen Holdings Group, and that its airlines business is a privately funded, Sri Lankan business. He added that FitsAir is entering the local market, as it feels Sri Lanka requires “a second force”, meaning more airlines in the business.    The airlines’ initial destinations include Dubai, Male, and Trichy, with the first flight to Dubai set to fly on 5 October 2022, from which day onwards, FitsAir would be operating three times a week.    “Flights from Colombo to the Maldives will begin from 10 October, three times a week, and flights to India will fly from late October this year,” Hill stated.    When contacted by The Morning Business for a comment, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage stated that he “does not think FitsAir would be a big competitor to SriLankan Airlines” and added that he would wait to observe the competitor’s schedule and operations to provide a comment on any potential threat to SriLankan.    By 2023, FitsAir is looking to expand its flight schedule to India, an important market for SriLankan Airlines. Hill stated that FitsAir would be operating domestic flights as well, from next year onwards.    According to Hill, the airline would be operating from Jaffna Airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), and Ratmalana Airport to cut down the air travel time, but has opted out of the Mattala International Airport because, as Hill stated: “The Mattala Airport is out of focus right now.”    Importantly, the airline, which has dry-leased three aircraft, will be employing  all Sri Lankan pilots to operate the Airlines.    News on FitsAir operation comes at a time the Government is trying to find an investor for SriLankan Catering. Through its predecessor EXPO Aviation, FitsAir had been operating predominately in the Cargo sector for the past 25 years. A year ago the ownership decided to enter into the scheduled regional passenger market and now has a fleet of three Airbus A320-200 aircraft in its fleet.   Hill stated that a free checked-in baggage allowance will be provided to all customers of 30 kg, in addition to one free carry-on bag of 7 kg. Special reduced fares may be offered featuring specially discounted rates and such fares may offer a reduced allowance of 20 kg, or no allowance at all.  


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