Sri Lanka Aviation

Thanks Haleef! Really appreciated! Do you know what causing the delays? Do you have any update when MSN 1037 will be painted in SriLankan Livery ?

There seems to be some confusion here. XTS was MSN 1757 and was just ferried. Not 1037. The UL deal with 1037 isn't totally off, but has run into delays.

MAW:
"Agree, if going with Boeing, It should not be B737 Max jets, its should be B787-9s, B777 is too large and no requirement to operate such a big aircraft, UL needs to maintain separate Boeing and Airbus warehouses and Crew sets which complicating operations, so better to stick with Airbus for a while.
Some very younger A320-232WLs and A320-214WLs are there and few A330-243s are there as I heard. (Recently few airlines ceased their operations and declared bankruptcy)
UL can do something with its existing order of 4 Jets in Airbus order book, (As I mentioned : Converting it to A321-251Ns {Better} or A330-841s) but it may take time."

I think there are a lot of ex-NK A320-232WLs being wfu from their fleet from a while now.
OG has some A320-251Ns stored since its shutdown.

I do agree that they should not rush to operate boeing jets because of the great differences between aircraft of the 2 manufacturers.
getting brand new jets would take a long time in this period.

apparently i am not able to quote up a post, hence the manually applied quotation.
and after this now im able to do it again?

I wonder why ALN is not active since it arrived from ICN on the 17-Oct?

Thanks, our website is only support JPG file for pictures. Type PNG only being used for icons on this website.

Any aircraft deliveries are on pipeline for UL and 8D?

Agree, if going with Boeing, It should not be B737 Max jets, its should be B787-9s, B777 is too large and no requirement to operate such a big aircraft, UL needs to maintain separate Boeing and Airbus warehouses and Crew sets which complicating operations, so better to stick with Airbus for a while.
Some very younger A320-232WLs and A320-214WLs are there and few A330-243s are there as I heard. (Recently few airlines ceased their operations and declared bankruptcy)
UL can do something with its existing order of 4 Jets in Airbus order book, (As I mentioned : Converting it to A321-251Ns {Better} or A330-841s) but it may take time.

Confirmed :

Aircraft Movements at CMB by hour

01-OCTOBER 2025 to 25-OCTOBER-2025
TIME	TOTAL WEEKLY FLIGHT ARRIVAL PER WEEK	TOTAL WEEKLY FLIGHT DEPATURE PER WEEK	TOTAL WEEKLY ARRIVAL + DEPARTURE FLIGHTS PER WEEK
00		50	50
01	7	22	29
02	29	18	47
03	19	30	49
04	32	21	53
05	42	17	59
06	18	7	25
07	7	49	56
08	36	26	62
09	40	21	61
10	2	36	38
11	47		47
12	24	12	36
13	8	51	59
14	6	19	25
15	30	6	36
16	41	15	56
17	40	29	69
18	19	60	79
19	8	14	22
20	20	21	41
21	19	24	43
22	61	25	86
23	32	14	46
Grand Total	587	587	1174

26-OCTOBER-2025 TO 30-NOVEMBER-2025
TIME	TOTAL WEEKLY FLIGHT ARRIVAL PER WEEK	TOTAL WEEKLY FLIGHT DEPATURE PER WEEK	TOTAL WEEKLY ARRIVAL + DEPARTURE FLIGHTS PER WEEK
00	25	47	72
01	13	37	50
02	28	25	53
03	24	24	48
04	2	33	35
05	35		35
06	27	6	33
07	7	52	59
08	45	26	71
09	22	32	54
10	21	16	37
11	56	10	66
12	15	25	40
13	16	40	56
14		32	32
15	37		37
16	31	19	50
17	39	27	66
18	12	52	64
19	15	14	29
20	9	26	35
21	39	18	57
22	48	23	71
23	33	15	48
Grand Total	599	599	1198

12 additional flights have been added in period ; 26-OCTOBER-2025 TO 30-NOVEMBER-2025.

• edited

Colombo Airport Schedule Flight Information - 26 October 2025 to 30 November 2025 Highlights

• SriLankan Airlines is increasing CMB-LHR flights from 7 weekly to 9 weekly;
• Fitsair is reducing CMB-DAC flights from 7 weekly to 5 weekly. Planning to restore 7 weekly flights in end of Nov25;
• Indigo is increasing MAA-CMB flights from 21 weekly to 27 weekly;
• Air India is terminating MAA-CMB flights effective 26-Oct-2025;
• AirAsia is increasing KUL-CMB flights from 10 weekly to 14 weekly;
• Air China is increasing TFU-CMB flights from 4 weekly to 6 weekly in Nov25. Planning to increase to 7 weekly from end of Nov25;
• Air Arabia is increasing SHJ-CMB flights from 18 weekly to 20 weekly;
• Air Seychelles is restoring the frequency of SEZ-CMB flights from 1 weekly to 2 weekly;
• Jazeera Airways is increasing KWI-CMB flights from 10 weekly to 11 weekly;
• Kuwait Airways is resuming KWI-CMB flights with 4 weekly onboard A320neo;
• China Eastern is increasing KMG-CMB flights from 4 weekly to 5 weekly in Nov 25. Planning to increase to 7 weekly from end of Nov25;
• Chonqing Airlines is cancelling CKG-CMB-MLE route until end of Dec25;
• SalamAir is reducing MCT-CMB flights from 5 weekly to 4 weekly in Nov25. Planning to increase to 6 weekly from end of Nov25;
• Aeroflot is increasing capacity and frequency of SVO-CMB flights from 2 weekly A333 to 3 weekly B77W;
• Turkish Airlines is increasing IST-CMB flights from 9 weekly to 10 weekly onboard A333. A359 to be deployed on 2 weekly flights and A333 to be deployed on 8 weekly from Jan26;
• Edelweiss Air is resuming ZRH-CMB flights with 2 weekly onboard A343. A359 to be deployed from Apr26;
• Arkia Israel Airlines is cancelling TLV-CMB flights in Nov25;

A/L	DEST	VIA	FLTS PER WEEK IN 01-OCT 2025 to 25-OCT-2025	FLTS PER WEEK IN FROM 26-OCT-2025 TO 30-NOV 2025	FREQ VARIATION
3L	AUH	---	5	5	0
6E	BLR	---	14	14	0
6E	BOM	---	7	7	0
6E	HYD	---	6	6	0
6E	MAA	---	21	27	6
8D	DAC	---	7	5	-2
8D	DXB	---	7	7	0
8D	KUL	---	3	3	0
8D	MLE	---	9	9	0
AI	BOM	---	7	7	0
AI	DEL	---	14	14	0
AI	MAA	---	7	0	-7
AK	KUL	---	10	14	4
CA	TFU	---	4	6	2
CX	HKG	---	7	7	0
EK	DXB	---	21	21	0
EK	DXB	MLE	7	7	0
EY	AUH	---	27	27	0
FD	DMK	---	7	7	0
FZ	DXB	---	21	21	0
FZ	DXB	MLE	7	7	0
G9	SHJ	---	18	20	2
GF	BAH	MLE	7	7	0
HM	SEZ	---	1	2	1
IZ	TLV	---	1	0	-1
J9	KWI	---	10	11	1
KU	KWI	---	0	4	4
MH	KUL	---	7	7	0
MU	KMG	---	4	5	1
MU	PVG	---	7	7	0
OQ	CKG	---	3	0	-3
OQ	MLE	---	3	0	-3
OV	MCT	---	5	4	-1
QR	DOH	---	28	28	0
SQ	SIN	---	7	7	0
SU	SVO	---	2	3	1
TG	BKK	---	7	7	0
TK	IST	---	9	10	1
UL	AUH	---	0	0	0
UL	BKK	---	14	14	0
UL	BLR	---	10	10	0
UL	BOM	---	14	14	0
UL	CAN	---	4	4	0
UL	CDG	---	0	0	0
UL	CGK	---	7	7	0
UL	COK	---	7	7	0
UL	DAC	---	7	7	0
UL	DEL	---	14	14	0
UL	DMM	---	7	7	0
UL	DOH	---	7	7	0
UL	DXB	---	11	11	0
UL	FRA	---	0	0	0
UL	FRA	CDG	3	3	0
UL	GAN	---	2	2	0
UL	HYD	---	5	5	0
UL	ICN	---	2	2	0
UL	IXM	---	6	6	0
UL	KHI	---	4	4	0
UL	KTM	---	4	4	0
UL	KUL	---	14	14	0
UL	KWI	---	7	7	0
UL	LHE	---	4	4	0
UL	LHR	---	7	9	2
UL	MAA	---	21	21	0
UL	MEL	---	7	7	0
UL	MLE	---	21	21	0
UL	NRT	---	4	4	0
UL	RUH	---	7	7	0
UL	SIN	---	14	14	0
UL	SYD	---	4	4	0
UL	TRV	---	4	4	0
UL	TRZ	---	8	8	0
WK	ZRH	---	0	2	2

Edited

That's very interesting news. With such a small total fleet, it would not be fiscally prudent for UL to operate a mixed Boeing and Airbus fleet. While 787s would be an interesting add (777s are likely too large for UL's needs), I do hope they are not considering the 737 Max.
Better to stick with Airbus, IMO.

Thanks for the update ! Do you have any update on SriLankan Airlines seeking substantial compensation from Airbus, including $200 million in damages and four new A330-900N aircraft?

It appears to be MSN 1037 (A333) being delivered to Thai AirAsia as HS-XTS on the 23 Oct 2025.

BIA to Add 12 New Check-in Counters from November 1 to Support Growing Airline Demand

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism, will open 12 new check-in counters at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from 1st November 2025.

AASL Chairman Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Harsha Abeywickrema said the move addresses increasing airline requests to add flights and operate wide-body aircraft during the winter season.

He noted that handling over 7.5 million passengers by September reflects strong industry growth and confidence to begin construction of BIA Terminal 2 in 2026.

-

Twenty (20) new self-check-in kiosks have been introduced at the Katunayake Airport, aiming to streamline the check-in process and reduce congestion during peak travel hours.

The kiosks have been jointly introduced by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) and SriLankan Airlines Ground Handling.

Airport Chief of SriLankan Airlines Ground Handling, Deepal Pallegangoda, said the new kiosks were introduced to improve efficiency and offer a smoother experience for travellers.

Deepal Pallegangoda reminded passengers that SriLankan Airlines closes check-in one hour prior to departure and urged travellers to make use of the extended arrival window, up to 04 hours, to avoid last-minute delays.

Stating that 08 self-check-in machines were initially installed at the Katunayake Airport, Deepal Pallegangoda added that 20 more have been installed now, bringing it to a total of 28 self-check-in machines at the airport. (Newswire)

Wishful thinking my fellow aviation Forum Friend!!!! But unfortunately Sri Lanka does not have that capability to support ULR flights.... I would rather see us go hard core on India,Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, China, Korea,Japan, SE Asia/Asean, Australasia, Retime Heathrow flights for better connectivity, Get back to MXP and FCO with connections to Australasia and SE ASIA, Re time CDG, FRA to connect to our SYD, MEL and India and SE Asia, China, Japan, Korea flights. We can add more value to One world and be taken more seriously by BA,AA,CX,QF,JL and even QR where we get to be more closer partners than just be alliance partners.

Let QR handle the codeshares to other EU, North America and South American destinations. For better connectivity UL needs to retime LHR which connects to British Airways and American Airlines vast network at LHR.

Flysmiles is utter waste. Dosent give you the vibe to credit miles to that program. Too Bad UL has lovely crew & soft product, but the planning teams and management seems to be elsewhere.

That’s a great point! The A330-800 (A338) in the 251T configuration would indeed be a solid option for UL. With its extended range, it can easily handle ultra-long-haul routes like CMB–JFK, CMB–YYZ, or even CMB–LAX, opening up direct connectivity to North America. The aircraft’s fuel efficiency and lower operating costs compared to older widebodies make it ideal for these thinner, long-distance markets.
If UL configures it similarly to Singapore Airlines’ ULR layout — optimized for passenger comfort with more premium and extra-legroom seating — it could offer a strong product for these long flights while maintaining profitability. It’s a smart way to expand network reach without going into the size and cost range of the A350 or B777.