The state-run Sri Lankan Airlines have announced that they will turn their focus away from European destinations, and instead look towards routes in Asia and the Middle East, as the airline continued to make losses for a fourth straight year.
Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe reportedly stated that the returns from European flights were currently less than satisfactory, with Chief executive Kapila Chandrasena commenting,
"This is especially prudent in the context of the economic crisis that is sweeping Europe at present and is likely to lead to a slowdown in tourism from Europe,"
The airlines will now turn to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Far East, reported Lanka Business Online.
Sri Lankan Airlines lost 19 billion rupees last year, and had to receive a 15.4 billion rupee tax payer bailout.
See our previous posts:
Airline losses due to government entourage flights – UNP (13 June 2012)
Rajapaksa pilots Sri Lanka's airlines (03 May 2012)
Sri Lankan Airlines looks for external sources to stay afloat (03 December 2011)
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