Air Asia, Sri Lankan flights cancel services from Trichy

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.24 AM IST

Trichy: The Kuala Lumpur-bound Air Asia and Malindo Air and Colombo-bound Sri Lankan Airlines have suspended their services for a brief period from Trichy international airport, as the airlines are witnessing poor passenger traffic following the advancing Covid-19 and subsequent travel advisory issued by the civil aviation authorities.

Sri Lankan Airlines has been operating two services a day from Trichy to Colombo. They have cancelled the morning service – arrival at Trichy at 9.10 am and departure to Colombo at 10.10 am-- for three days from March 16 to 18, for three days, authorities said.

Meanwhile, sources from the airlines said that they are also going to cancel the evening service – which arrives here at 3.05 pm and leaves to Colombo at 4.05 pm, for 13 days from March 19. Sri Lankan flight acts as a connecting flight for Trichy passengers who have to travel to several gulf countries. However, due to the announcement made by the gulf countries restricting international flights, citing Covid-19 threat, the passenger traffic has considerably come down. Out of 150 seats, the airline could hardly fill 50 seats, sources from the airline said.

Meanwhile, Air Asia has also cancelled its two services from March 17 till April 15. Air Asia is operating three services between Trichy - Kuala Lumpur sector on a daily basis. Morning flight arrives here at 8.55 am and leaves for Kuala Lumpur at 9.25 am. Another one lands here at 10 pm and departs at 10.30 pm. The flight, which arrives here at 11.40 pm, usually takes off from here at 12.10 am. Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the airline has announced to cancel two services except for the one, which arrives here at 10 pm. The other two services will not be operated from March 17 till April 15, a notification from the airlines said.