CHARM OFFENSIVE - Orient Aviation

ing partner Emirates to pick-up SriLankan passengersand fly them on to other destinationsthrough its network to Europe and Asia.Other airlines, too, had also given “tremendoussupport” in helping the carrier throughits time of need, said Hill.The future, however, remains clouded.As yet, there are no plans to replace the lostaircraft, either through lease arrangements orpurchase. According to Hill, it is also too early togive any indication of when suspended routesmight be reinstated. What is important, heexplained, is the rebuilding programme.Understandably, tourism has been hard hitby the events of July 24. Many nations, mainlyin Europe, but also in Asia and the U.S., havetravel advisories in affect advising againsttravel to Colombo. Fortunately, expatriate SriLankans returning home on visits still providea solid base for the airline.When Orient Aviation visited Hill inColombo late last year he was a man “on amission” to make SriLankan Airlines a major internationalcarrier. His words have returned tohaunt him. “The long-term future of SriLankanremains tied to the country’s security situation.Hill will continue with his crusade to insist thatThe headline from the December/January issue of Orient AviationSri Lanka is safe for tourists,” concluded thefeature article headlined “Hill’s Crusade” Thatis now going to be much harder to do. Much,much harder.But Hill, who was the landlord of a Londonpub before taking up his challenge in Asia,is made of sterner stuff with an iron will tosucceed. The mission goes on.September 2001 | Orient Aviation | 27