Sri LankanCargo expands in sluggish market

SRILANKAN Cargo, the subsidiary of Sri Lankan Airlines, has opened an agent office in Galle in the southern province in a move to expand its network and increase revenues.

In addition to the office in Jaffna, SriLankan Airlines cargo sales manager Mahiman Yapa said the company will expand its offices in the area in the near future.

Economic activity is increasing in the southern province with a new industrial zone planned adjacent to a newly-built port in Hambantota and an international airport anticipated in the same area.

SriLankan is however expanding into a struggling market. The volume of airborne goods fell in the Asian region in the first two months of the year compared to the same period in 2010. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines figures show that freight load factors in January and February 2011 stood at 65.5 per cent, a drop from 68.5 per cent in the same period last year.