National policy to open skies

Sri Lanka is likely to adopt the open skies policy as part of the National Aviation Policy and the proposal is currently awaiting Cabinet approval.

Open skies policy for Sri Lanka would be a managed policy as it will allow for unlimited frequencies for carriers operating to the country but not the right to fly out direct to any destination from Colombo, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiris said on Friday.

He noted that the airlines “can mobilise any frequency” as it is a managed open skies and some permission might be allowed for carriers to operate out to any destination if this is reciprocated for Sri Lanka in that carrier’s home country.

Moreover, Mr. Nimalsiri pointed out that the capacity of the aircraft would not be regulated as well under the new open skies policy.

Asked whether these new policies would hurt the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, the regulator pointed out that “SriLankan as an airline should be able to compete. It cannot be run with state protection. It can be only for a limited period.”

Commenting on the impact of the open skies policy he explained that this would ensure more carriers promoting the destination as it would mean there were no traffic rights and they could mobilise more people as well. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka should not be dependent on the national carrier but ensure that the country brings down the high spending tourists to visit the destination and in this respect the industry needs to depend on other international carriers.

Liberalising the air space had been a constraint in the past since the state continued to support national carrier SriLankan Airlines in order to assist it to operate profitably.

Meanwhile, the Mattala Rajapakse International Airport (MRIA) is said to be enjoying all nine freedoms of the air or open skies but is not attracting the right airlines to fly in due to lack of infrastructural connectivity.

Mr. Nimalsiri pointed out that the existing bilateral agreements entered into with the respective international airlines operating to Sri Lanka would continue but certain clauses would be nullified once the new policy becomes effective.