Lakwin Aviation (Colombo Ratmalana) has secured its air operator's certificate (AOC) to provide domestic passenger and cargo flights in Sri Lanka. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) made the announcement on September 27. The airline called it a "milestone achievement."
"The entry of more airlines to the Sri Lanka air transport industry will be a catalyst to the national economy through the promotion of the tourism industry," said a CAASL statement. To date, Lakwin is best known for operating a flight academy and offering some limited maintenance and charter facilities to external customers out of Colombo Ratmalana using Cessna (single piston) and Piper (twin piston) light aircraft as well as a Gipps GA-8.
The airline was not immediately available to comment on its operational plans.
According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, there are presently three active scheduled passenger airlines in Sri Lanka - Cinnamon Air, FitsAir, and SriLankan Airlines, as well as passenger charter airlines - IWS Aviation.
As of September 26, CAASL records show Open Skies (Sri Lanka), another flying school, to be on phase 4 of its AOC drive while Red Bird Aviation, Fly Lankan Asia, Spark Air, Aura Airlines (Sri Lanka), and Air Colombo are all still on phase 3.
