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You lease Mig-29 - I lease A321 Ape Ahasa anunge salli walin
Sunday, 13 May 2007 - 11:27 AM SL Time | | |
[Mihin leases an Airbus at a monthly rental of Rs. 110 million]
Mihin Lanka is to take on a wet lease a second aircraft at an estimated monthly rental of over US$ 1 million it is learnt.
Normal lease conditions for such a transaction are three months deposit plus one month advance, making it a total upfront payment of at least US$ 4 million, informed sources said.
However, Mihin Lanka was tight lipped on how the new aircraft is to be financed.
The latest aircraft is an Airbus A321, which could carry up to 194 passengers and was to be leased from Best Air from May 11.
Head of Communications, Mihin Lanka, R. A. S. Rajapakse confirmed to The Sunday Leader that Mihin Lanka would be taking on lease a second aircraft and that it would be operational from this week.
`We have one aircraft operating to Dubai at the moment and we have already applied to the Indian Civil Aviation Authority seeking permission to fly to several destinations in India as well,` he said.
According to Rajapakse, Indian authorities are to respond to the request within the next few weeks.
However, Rajapakse declined to comment on how the second aircraft would be financed or the source of funds for the purpose.
`Aircraft are mainly purchased on lease now. But as for the source of funds to lease it does not come under my purview,` he said.
The Sunday Leader learns that the aircraftleased by Mihin Lanka was manufactured in 1996 and its first flight took place on June 13, 1996.
Allegations were leveled against Mihin Lanka by trade unions that accused the government of utilizing the funds of the Foreign Employment Bureau, EPF and ETF for the airline.
EPF and ETF are the welfare funds of the private sector employees, operated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The funds are contributed jointly by the private sector employers and employees.
Mihin Lanka made its first test flight to India`s southern city of Thiruvananthapuram from Katunayake in March.
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Source(s)
The Sundau Leader/ Net |
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