Coimbatore-Singapore Silk Air service launched
Vice-President (Commercial) of Silk Air David Lim (right), Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy (centre) and the Nilgiris MP R. Prabhu cut a cake to launch the Coimbatore-Singapore Silk Air service at the Coimbatore Airport on Sunday.The direct flight service between Singapore and Coimbatore would help in promoting industrial, business as well as leisure travel prospects on either side, observed David Lim, Vice-President (Commercial) of Silk Air, on Sunday.Silk Air would provide connectivity from Singapore for tourists from Australia, the U.S., the U.K. and other parts of the world to visit destinations in and around Coimbatore. He was talking to reporters after inaugurating the first direct flight service of Silk Air between Coimbatore and Singapore.The inaugural flight from Singapore had over 95 per cent occupancy while the outgoing first flight to Singapore had over 65 per cent occupancy. It would have been higher, if the inaugural flight time was not advanced, he said.The dignitaries launched the first service by cutting a cake. Captains Shri Ram and Mandesh Singh along the flight crew were honoured.
Mr. David said with the major metro cities having reached a saturation level Silk Air was looking at the business prospects in fast growing cities such as Coimbatore. Silk Air was focussing on business tourists as well as leisure travellers.To foster business and industrial ties, Silk Air in its first flight from Singapore on Sunday brought in a delegation of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegation would meet industrial and business houses and explore areas where there could be ties for encouraging investments.
The delegation was hoping for fruitful efforts on education and textile machinery segments. Mr. Lim said Silk Air was waiting for a long to launch its service to Coimbatore. He said a study team was constituted in 2004 which suggested operation of services to Coimbatore. But the plans could not be materialised since they had to wait for a review of the air service agreement between the two countries.“When the review of the agreement this year gave the opportunity Silk Air came into Coimbatore,” he said.On increasing frequency between Singapore and Coimbatore, David said a city such as Coimbatore with so much of potential required more services and added that depending on patronage the number of services would be increased.
On the cargo freighter, Mr. Lim said as such the passenger flights could take up to three tonnes of cargo and if there was more demand, Silk Air would impress upon Singapore Airlines to commence cargo services.As of now, Coimbatore is the third city in the South India next to Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi for Silk Air. Mr. Prabhu said India’s tourism office at Singapore would showcase the opportunities and potentials in terms of business, tourism and culture in this part of the country. Minister for Rural Industries Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Nilgiris MP R. Prabhu, Coimbatore Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Customs Commissioner C. Rajendran, Airport Director K. Hemalatha, Manager Public Affairs of Silk Air Renu Nair, Manager India of Silk Air Ramachandra Menon and Manager of Silk Air L. Ravindran, Coimbatore, were among those who took part in the inaugural function.
