Sri Lankan budget airlines struggle to get off ground

Sri Lanka's first budget airlines to fly international routes are struggling to get off ground, with approvals pending from Sri Lanka?s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The island?s airline regulator, the CAA says the process has been stalled due to delays by potential new operators in supplying all the necessary technical information.
The race to fly international routes has been narrowed down to two potential applicants Holiday Air and domestic carrier Expo Aviation that were given provisional licences to fly to India subject to technical clearances such as safety standards.
A third applicant Deccan Air that runs a local helicopter service, has not progressed beyond the initial stage despite being also given a provisional licence, Nimalsiri said.
Holiday Air said earlier this year that it was in talks to tie up with Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia for technical and operational support and would also be the Malaysian airline?s first entry into Sri Lanka.
30/10/06 Lanka Everything, UK

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline