Peace Airways, the airline of peace, will be operating six airbus 380s from Mattala shortly that will fly to China, Africa, Australia and Europe.
There will be two A 380 aircraft coming almost immediately, followed by another two a year later and the remaining in another two years. All six flights will arrive at Mattala within the next two years.
"We will be operating the six Peace Airways aircraft from Mattala while another six Boeing 787 Dream Liner Aircraft will be operating to and from the Katunayake International Airport (KIA). In addition 50 brand new aircraft will be purchased from the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines," Peace Air Chairman Gamini Wettasinghe told Ceylon Today on late Friday night.
He also said that the investment for the Mattala aircraft is US $2.2 billion while a further US $ 5.5 billion has been allocated for the purchase of aircraft from SriLankan Airlines.
One of the main aims of the Peace Airways strategy would be to fly Chinese tourists into Africa, and Australian tourists to Europe and Africa where all the operations will be en route from Mattala, he explained.
He also said that the budget carrier Mihin would be used as a feeder carrier to fly tourists from Indian destinations to Mattala from where they will travel to Europe and Australia and other African and Chinese destinations.
Wettasinghe also explained that the US $2.2 billion for the Mattala Airport would be used for the improvement of the infrastructure at the airport such as electricity, etc along with the salary allocations for staff for three years inclusive of a bonus of Rs 100,000 per employee.
He also said that the issue with the SriLankan Airlines right now was that despite the airline making an US1b annual turnover and taking on-board some five million passengers annually, the cause of the losses was due to the 48-50 per cent of that figure being diverted to suppliers of operating leases.
He said that all these operating leases would be null and void when the new buyer – Peace Air purchases the national carrier and gets rid of the leases which will also pave the way for the acquisition of 50 brand new aircraft for SriLankan in addition to the additional aircraft needed for Mihin.
He also assured that all the 400 Mihin employees who were terminated, would be re-employed with the growing needs of the budget airline.
Looks like he's bringing in Mahinda's black money. He talks behalf of MR
It's possible in 2007 He wanted to bring MH 747-400 the air craft was already painted in peace air then Govt decided to give it to EK..
He has some connection with MH anyone has Mr. Gamini s profile like education and work experience
LOL, thanks for sharing. The man is a clown. I like the part where he and his CEO decide on the fly to unmerge the airlines . Unbelievable that all the media personal are listening to this very seriously; I would be in the floor laughing my ass off.
A320neo, 4R-ANA to have its first flight on the 24th of January 2017 as stated by a forum member isn't it? Anyone spotted the aircraft or take any pictures?
Yes i had seen it prior Christmas last year parked outside.
So far it has not made any further appearance, at least not in daylight.
And it didn't have it's engine runs nor other tests scheduled which are usually done prior First Flight.
Should be imminent though, so let's see what next week brings.
Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim replying to allegations the Joint Opposition (JO) said yesterday the continued use of the A350 aircraft would have cost SriLankan Airlines a loss of US$ 1 million per month, compared to the total loss of US$ 98 million for its cancellation. The Joint Opposition on Wednesday lodged a complaint against Hashim with the Bribery Commission and the CID accusing the government of accruing a loss of US$ 98 million due to the cancellation of three A350 aircraft.
SriLankan Airlines is cancelling A350 Order and extending the lease period of A330 : -
Hashim also explained that due to increasing loses, they had to also make the decision to scrap four A350 aircraft that had been ordered by the previous regime. The agreements signed, according to the minister had no ‘exit’ clauses and thus they had to re-negotiate terms of exit, “After discussions, we paid US$ 17 million for one, and US$ 98 million for the other three”, said Hashim.
Another four A350s which were ordered directly via Airbus and scheduled to arrive in 2020 will also be cancelled, the minister said,
The ministry however has chosen to extend the A330 lease with a new rate and has also taken out a new lease for another A330.
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