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Message: <blockquote data-quote="saraprobe" data-source="post: 678922" data-attributes="member: 13914">Recent negotiations between the Australian and Sri Lankan aviation authorities have helped to pave the way for direct air services between the two countries, according to the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services Mark Vaile.“The expanded arrangements will enable SriLankan Airlines to operate a daily service to any one of Australia’s main gateways of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with additional capacity to test services to another main gateway,” Mr Vaile said in a media release.Mr Vaile said that over 60 per cent of the Australia-Sri Lanka market is shared between Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, with 48 per cent of passengers flying via Singapore and 29 percent travelling via Kuala Lumpur.“A direct service will provide another option to consumers for air travel between the two countries, including the significant number of people with family connections in both countries and the sizeable Sri Lankan student population in Australia,” Mr Vaile said.This news comes despite recent travel advisories warning Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Sri Lanka.In response to the question about security concerns given the Australian government’s current position, a representative from Mr Vaile’s office stated, “Any Sri Lankan or Australian airline that operates to the other country is required to meet the safety and transport security requirements of both countries.”This means, for example, SriLankan Airlines would be required to obtain a Foreign Aircraft Air Operator’s Certificate from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority and an approved Transport Security Program from the Department of Transport and Regional Services’ Office of Transport Security, said the representative.According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were approximately 74,500 passenger movements between Australia and Sri Lanka in the year ending April 2007.These trips were generated by 16,500 Sri Lankan visitors to Australia, representing a 15.9 per cent increase on the previous year, and 21,900 visits by Australian residents to Sri Lanka, representing a decrease of 16.7 per cent on the previous year.Of the Australian residents, 43 per cent were visiting relatives in Sri Lanka, while 39 per cent were on holiday and 6 per cent were on business.“While the market for direct travel between Australia and Sri Lanka is relatively small at present, the new arrangements remove some significant restrictions on the flexibility of Sri Lankan carriers to serve the Australian market and provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan Airlines to demonstrate a commitment to serve the Australian market,” Mr Vaile said.Mr Vaile said the air services discussions also resulted in agreement to recommend a more modern air services treaty for the consideration by both Governments to reflect the need for updated aviation security and safety provisions and to set the scene for further liberalisation.But creating potential for flights does not translate to actual flights, with the airlines still to take up the opportunity and no timelines or destinations set.<a href="http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/15/busi1.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/15/busi1.htm</a></blockquote>

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