The Hindu Business Line : Singapore-Sri Lanka `open sky'

THE jury is still out on what impact the decision of Singapore and Sri Lanka to firm up an `open-sky' agreement that will allow their airlines to operate between and beyond the two countries, will have on the Indian aviation industry.

Both Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SriLankan Airlines feel that the `open-sky' agreement will not have any impact on the Indian market. This is what the spokesperson of SIA in Singapore told Business Line: "Even before this open skies agreement, which is welcome, there was a very liberal air services agreement between Sri Lanka and Singapore which gave SIA limited beyond rights. SIA has not used the rights. The limitations are now removed. We plan to increase capacity gradually over the next few years."

Echoing almost similar sentiments, a spokesperson of SriLankan Airlines, when contacted in Colombo, said the Indian market will not be affected. "SriLankan Airlines is looking at improving frequencies to afford a better choice to passengers from all countries," the spokesperson said, adding that the airline "will not be looking at onward routes. However, it plans to increase existing capacity to India to double daily frequencies." However, the domestic airlines in India are viewing this development slightly differently. Officially, they are saying that the new agreement will have little impact on their operations, especially when they are permitted to fly to more international destinations. But, privately, some of them admit that the move could impact the South Indian market.

There are sections, however, which feel that the move would help the two international airlines offer more opportunities to passengers wanting to travel to different parts of the globe through their hubs in Colombo and Singapore respectively.

Interestingly, India has signed separate agreements with Singapore as part of the Asean open sky agreement, and with Sri Lanka, which allow designated airlines of the both these countries to not only operate a daily flight to six cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, but also to 18 different tourist destinations.

Singapore Airlines now operates 49 flights a week to 10 destinations in India, including Chennai, Thiruvanthapuram, Kochin, Bangalore, Delhi, while SriLankan Airlines operates 77 flights a week between Colombo and India, including to Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Thiruvanthapuram, among others.