IAS GOES REGIONAL: Flights would be operated from regional airports to Trivandrum

Island Aviation Services Limited (IAS) has said that flights would be operated from the regional airports to Trivandrum as they commence operating flights to Trivandrum on 25th January 2008. This was revealed in the special ceremony held yesterday at Nasandhura Palace Hotel to officiate the handing over of the operations permit from Indian government to schedule flights to Trivandrum.

Executive Director of Civil Aviation Department, Mahmoud Raazee handed over the permit to Island Aviation and Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem, Managing Director of IAS received this on behalf of IAS.

Mahmood Raazee in his speech at the ceremony said that IAS is an operating airline meeting the aeronautical requirements stipulated under the Maldivian Air legislation. He also said that the choice of jet or turboprop for sector lengths of 500km s fundamentally driven by economics and IAS by choosing to commence services with a turboprop has also addressed some of the other elements of the business for these stage lengths.

Managing Director of IAS, Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem said that IAS would continue to invest in their expansion this year as well to realize their goal.

Speaking in a news conference after the ceremony, Saleem further said that they would make profit from these flights although they operate domestic flights on loss. The reason for this, according to Saleem was that airport handling cost is less in India than Maldives and also they get fuel duty free from Maldives as well as from India. He said that overall operation costs would be lower in India than Maldives. He also said that the Dash 8 turbo prop to be used in these flights would be fuel efficient and appropriate for the journey. But he said that patients cannot be carried on Stretcher in this plane yet.

The first flight from Male’ to Trivandrum will be operated at 3:30pm of 25th January and one flight would be operated from Male’ to Trivandrum and from Trivadrum to Male’. Flights from regional airports would only travel to Trrivandrum after landing in Male’ and same applies to those arriving from Trivandrum.

IAS said that they had requested for permission to operate direct flights from Hanimaadhoo to Trivandrum.