Sri Lanka Aviation

**umedhah** · 12-08-2013, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by Banuthev

According to LBO News on 11-Aug-13, SriLankan Airlines planning to operate nonstop flights to China in Summer 2014.

The same news says : "SriLankan is now flying to China via Bangkok, with tourists to Maldives being a key contributor to filling seats. But direct traffic to Sri Lanka has been picking up. Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka has risen 72.3 percent to 16,582 in the six months to June from a year earlier, overtaking Japan as the biggest East Asian generating market over the past few months." Source

Lets see whether UL will make China nonstop flights in action this time.

wow good news!!!

**banuthev** · 12-08-2013, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by Banuthev

According to LBO News on 11-Aug-13, SriLankan Airlines planning to operate nonstop flights to China in Summer 2014.

The same news says : "SriLankan is now flying to China via Bangkok, with tourists to Maldives being a key contributor to filling seats. But direct traffic to Sri Lanka has been picking up. Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka has risen 72.3 percent to 16,582 in the six months to June from a year earlier, overtaking Japan as the biggest East Asian generating market over the past few months." Source

Lets see whether UL will make China nonstop flights in action this time.

Originally posted by umedhah

wow good news!!!

It's definately a good news! I can see UL management have been making some good decision these days i.e. Direct flights to Seychelles and Nairobi, nonstop flights to China and there is a rumour UL interested in strategic partnership with Middle East based airline. Hopefully UL will improve the standard up, in the sense Best Cabin Service, Upgraded aircraft, Best Airport Operations etc..

I think in 2012/3, UL loaded flight schedules of nonstop China Flights. Not sure why they dropped that plan of flying nonstop to China. UAE, Saudi, Japan and China are the key market for UL. Why do we have to wait till Summer 2014 to start a nonstop flights to China. Summer 2014 is a bit long time.. it would have been better if they start from Winter 2013 ;o)

**4R-ALA** · 13-08-2013, 02:22 AM

yeah..i read this today morning and by far the best possible news that UL rang early morning...

**umedhah** · 13-08-2013, 07:09 PM

whats with the Airbus orders guys??? are we still going with it?or on hold?

**lochana333** · 15-08-2013, 05:33 AM

Originally posted by Banuthev

True, EY and QR serve SEZ with A320/A319s. But QR is cancelling SEZ from the network effective Winter 2013 when they join Oneworld alliance. So none of the Oneworld alliance member fly to SEZ. Why shouldn't UL add the SEZ in it's network because we join Oneworld in mid-2014.

Sri Lankan Airlines have announced that the airline will introduce direct services to Seychelles in October 2013

**banuthev** · 15-08-2013, 05:35 AM

Originally posted by umedhah

whats with the Airbus orders guys??? are we still going with it?or on hold?

No latest update about SriLankan's A333/A359 order from my side but Airbus Website per 31-Jul-13 shows UL has got 6 of the A333s and 4 of the A359s are on order.

So UL has got 5 x A343s, 7 x A332s and 8 x A320s totalling 20 active fleet (4R-ADA not active). Will they lease used A333s when they retire 4R-ADB and 4R-ADC in mid-2014 if they delay the brand new Airbus order. We almost know 4R-ADA going to be scrapped as aircraft doesn't worth for repair if they consider the aircraft's age, flying cycles, repair cost and lease expiring in 6 or 7 months any way. I would think 4R-ADA's lessor Veling Aircraft Leasing will prefer this aircraft to be scrapped because they will claim the money from Insurance Company via UL. UL's insurance premium goes up.

I think UL better wait and get the longer ranged A330-300 in 2016 as 2015's version doesn't reach CMB-LHR nonstop. What do you think guys?

**umedhah** · 15-08-2013, 06:07 AM

Thats true Banu... sadly we have to say goodbye to ADA :S.

**Serendib** · 16-08-2013, 05:37 AM

Originally posted by Speedbird

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/n...leet/374830029

UL CEO mentioned the following

Until this is fixed; trying to becoming the air hub is a distance dream; will never compete against Singapore or UAE/Qatar. Sri Lanka does not have refinery capability such as Jurong Island or Jebal Ali.

it will definitely more than 0.5bn loss and that is not a viable business model.

UL CEO mentions that their decisions are not purely commercial; well we know that excepts SL zombies who is following current GOSL. But he fails to mentions who gives the inputs for these decisions.

DM Editorial sums it up very nicely

Future is very bleak or almost non existence for UL...It is national shame

Defending losses, national carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday made a determined play at countering fuel prices, providing better service and improving competitiveness to become profitable by financial year 2016/2017 - http://www.ft.lk/2013/08/08/srilanka...table-by-2016/

**Speedbird** · 16-08-2013, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by Serendib

....to become profitable by financial year 2016/2017 - http://www.ft.lk/2013/08/08/srilanka...table-by-2016/

Wishful thinking...?

**Cayman** · 16-08-2013, 07:02 PM

Other than the CEO simply saying "we will be profitable in 2016" I have not seen anything that even vaguely resembles an action plan or any reasonable projections, so I am not convinced the least bit.

**Serendib** · 18-08-2013, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by Cayman

Other than the CEO simply saying "we will be profitable in 2016" I have not seen anything that even vaguely resembles an action plan or any reasonable projections, so I am not convinced the least bit.

Read this: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=business%...eet-airbus-tie

**umedhah** · 18-08-2013, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by Serendib

Read this: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=business%...eet-airbus-tie

SLA is considering commencing direct flights to Australia in 2016.

good news!!!!

**LukeSkywalker** · 18-08-2013, 11:26 PM

Originally posted by Speedbird

Wishful thinking...?

Becoming profitable has always been a moving target... Just keep on saying it will become profitable in the next two years every year...

**Srilankan1** · 19-08-2013, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by LukeSkywalker

Becoming profitable has always been a moving target... Just keep on saying it will become profitable in the next two years every year...

ha ha well said. we need real managers like Peter hill to manage Srilankan again.not this political Jokers.

**banuthev** · 19-08-2013, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by Srilankan1

We need to have more European Airlines in Colombo.

Btw how is British Airways load factor to Colombo?

Goodnews if this is true!! According to CHAviation, LOT Polish Airlines to operate Colombo service starting from November 2013 onboard Dreamliner B787. I think this is a first time B787 going to land in Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka Aviation

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