Sri Lanka Aviation

SriLankan Airlines to launch Colombo-Melbourne flights this year

SriLankan Airlines will begin flying between Melbourne and Colombo towards the end of this year, marking the airline's long-awaited return to Australian skies.

A spokesperson for the Sri Lankan flag-carrier – which many years ago abandoned flights to both Sydney and Melbourne – indicated to Australian Business Traveller that the schedule would see four flights each week, using an Airbus A330 jet fitted with lie-flat business class seats to make the 11 hour journey.

This will be the only direct route from Australia to Sri Lanka – most travellers to the tiny island off the southern tip of India transit via Singapore, with onwards flights provided by SriLankan and Singapore Airlines.

Business class travellers and passengers holding the appropriate Qantas Frequent Flyer status will be able to use Qantas' Melbourne lounges, including the Qantas First Lounge for Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members.

Reciprocal access will see FlySmiles Gold members eligible to use the Qantas Business Lounge, while FlySmiles Platinums can luxe it up in the Qantas First Lounge.

Travellers will also have the option of pocketing frequent flyer miles in SriLankan's FlySmiles scheme or the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

https://www.ausbt.com.au/srilankan-a...ghts-this-year

Lie flats seats indicate that this flight would most probably be operated by UL's A330-300. Has the Airbus A330-300 got the capability to operate a 11 hour flight without facing payload limitations. For eg:- I need to know how the CMB-LHR flight performing, is it facing any payload limitations.
Because most other airlines use the A330-300 as a high density short-to-medium haul aircraft.
On the other hand Airbus did certify a A330-300HGW few years back.So is UL's A330s also HGW version.

I actually do hope they start this route in line with the Kangaroo route, as there are a significant amout of passengers travelling from Australia to the UK with connections in ME or SE asia. If they operate, UL would offer a 11+11 hr journey which is a viable option for travellers than a 14+8 hr journey either way ( VIA ME or SE asia).

Does anyone know whether ALS would have cabins similar to the A333's or the regular A332's?

The A350 would have served CMB-MEL effortlessly!

AFAIK most of UL's A333s are HGWs.

Here is a link straight from the lessor: http://www.bohaileasing.com/en/newsinfo.aspx?nid=1211

Umedha, do you think UL will make Australia flights definitely this year? I am wondering why UL wants fly Melbourne instead of Sydney.

Hi Banu, im guessing they will this time . Not sure why MEL instead of SYD. i guess there is more SL crowd in MEL?

https://www.ausbt.com.au/srilankan-a...ghts-this-year


No facts just a few meaningless statements by an anonymous person - looks like a publicity piece.

If this was going to happen they'd have published a schedule and started selling tickets already.

There's no market plus they are competing against all the other carriers. UL can only compete on price which will result in massive losses. The high lease prices on the A330's means they cannot compete.

This is just another Fairy Tale imho.

any idea why a320 4r-abm is inactive for now a week or so ?

c check ?

From: Chairman
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2017 1:15 PM
To: all
Subject: PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

Dear All,

PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

As you are aware the Government appointed Restructuring Committee for the airline was in discussion with TPG, an American based private equity company, for purchasing of upto 49% of the equity of SriLankan Airlines.

After completing the due diligence process, regrettably TPG have informed us they will not pursue a potential investment in SriLankan Airlines. It is their opinion that allocating the human and financial resources to make the airline profitable will not realize sufficient returns, compared to the many other investment opportunities that are available to them.

However the Government is pursuing other options in finding a partner and we should continue on the path of improving our performance both financially and operationally.

The financial year that has ended has been satisfactory considering the downside we have had to undergo with lower yields and drops in revenue. The runway closure, which was very necessary, also resulted in the cancellation of over 600 flights, which also had an adverse effect on our performance.

Regards,

Ajith Dias
Chairman

SriLankan bags top Tamil Nadu Tourism Award


SriLankan Airlines added yet another international accolade to its impressive collection when it received the ‘Best International Airline - Asia’ award at the second annual Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards, the largest tourism awards event in the state of Tamil Nadu.

This is the second successive year that SriLankan won a major accolade at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards, having won last year in the category of Best International Airline. SriLankan has won a host of accolades in recent months including ‘World’s Leading Airline Operating to the Indian Ocean Region’ at the World Travel Awards; ‘Best Full Service Airline in Central and South Asia’ for the second consecutive year at the Future Travel Experience Asia Awards; ‘Most Innovative Marketing Airline in China’ by Life Weekly magazine; and ‘Best Airline in South Asia’ at the Top Travel Awards, also in China.

SriLankan now operates the largest network of any foreign airline operating in India with over 100 flights to 11 cities and is also the largest international airline serving the Maldives, with 25 flights per week. SriLankan’s global network covers 100 cities in 47 countries and as a member of the oneworld global airline alliance it also connects its passengers to oneworld’s worldwide network of more than 1,000 destinations in 160 countries. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Awards is an annual event organised by tourist guidebook producer Madura Welcome and supported by the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India. Among the other notable international winners were Thai Airways which won the award for Best International Airline – Pacific and Oman Air which received the award for Best International Airline – Middle East. -

See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Sr....jaoTu9qX.dpuf

So, that seems to be that, as far as an investment from TPG is concerned...
Since there doesn't seem to be any intent (or appetite) to shut UL down, I wonder what the next options are going to be...

Another Epic Fail - there's a surprise!

Bankruptcy is all that's left imho.

Should already have happened - it's the only way to get all the expensive aircraft leases cancelled and stop the Corruption and Racketeering that define daily operations.

There are people responsible for this mess - time for some accountability imho.

SriLankan Airlines announces initial results in FY 2016/17.

May 05, Colombo: Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines marked year of transformation in its recently ended financial year, carrying the highest number of passengers ever in the airline's history.

Based on draft un-audited accounts, the total operational revenue increased to Rs. 136.68 billion from Rs. 129.48 billion in the prior year. However, difficult market conditions resulted the airline to record an un-audited Net group loss (before finance and one-off charges) of Rs. 6.49 billion (USD15.12 million) for the year. This is an increase from the Rs. 2.90 billion (USD3.15 million) loss recorded in the prior year - but a significant improvement from the deficit that had been budgeted for the year.

The year was profoundly challenging for airlines worldwide, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimating an 8% global decline in air fares in USD terms. Despite these challenging conditions, SriLankan managed to control the decline in its average fares to only 3% in USD terms year-over-year - a satisfactory performance in relation to many leading airlines in the world who have seen significantly higher fare declines.

The depreciation of the Sri Lanka Rupee against the US Dollar had a significant negative impact on the airline, as a majority of costs in the global airline business are USD denominated. The impact of this was further exacerbated by the relatively high price of jet fuel in Colombo, where the largest share of the airline's fuel uplift takes place. In the face of these challenges, the airline accelerated its cost reduction efforts, enabling a reduction of its Unit Cost (CASK) in USD terms.

During the last quarter of the financial year, the airline's financial performance was further significantly and adversely affected due to the very necessary runway re-surfacing project at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport - which required the airline to cancel over 600 flights during the period.

A significant improvement in performance was recorded at the airline's Strategic Business Units - with key performing units such as SriLankan Catering and the ground handling entity recording profit improvements.

The airline successfully completed the integration of Mihin Lanka's operations into the SriLankan network during the year, marking a seamless transfer conducted in a relatively short time frame. At the end of the year, SriLankan was serving 36 international destinations from its hub in Colombo, with an operating fleet of 24 aircraft.

It has already announced plans to add three new destinations in India from Summer 2017, thereby becoming the largest foreign airline into India by the number of cities served.

Meanwhile the primary shareholder, the Government of Sri Lanka, is undertaking an initiative to select a suitable strategic partner for the airline.

Source-Colombopage

This was not totally unexpected.

Those who knew the methodologies employed for evaluation had known for a while that TPG will not touch UL.

Back to square One I suppose. I think its time UL followed the foot steps of Alitalia.