That's UAE Abu Dhabi Amiri VIP flight that arrived from Singapore yesterday in the evening. Registration is A6-PFC. Around 20 or more VIP vehicles went towards it yesterday.

Between 10 -11 in the morning,Bamba

AirAsia offers to build special terminal at BIA for budget carriers

AirAsia has offered to build a special terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for low-cost carriers under a five-year investment of US$ 70-100 million. The Malaysian carrier’s proposal to set up a budget carrier based out of BIA was put forward more than one year ago.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has now approved the bid and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga have submitted a joint Cabinet paper. It is scheduled to be taken up when the Cabinet next convenes.

AirAsia’s plans were first discussed with Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim who last week claimed he was bypassed. A visiting team met him in March and July 2017 and on one occasion made a presentation to a technical committee appointed by his Ministry. A similar summary was given to the CCEM on November 8.

The Prime Minister’s office was approached directly as the process was stagnating, reliable sources said. AirAsia is looking at a possible public-private partnership with up to US$ 100 million in foreign direct investment. In its presentation, the company maintained that a budget-carrier would catalyse the tourism industry. Sri Lanka with its eight UNESCO heritage sites received just 2.1 million tourist arrivals last year in comparison to 26 million visitors to Malaysia over the same period, though that country has only four UNESCO heritage sites.

The long process to obtain an air operator’s certificate will begin once the Sri Lankan Government grants in-principle approval for the project. AirAsia envisages the deployment of 24 aircraft — including in Jaffna and Hambantota — over a five-year period, officials who attended the presentation said. Operations would be based primarily out of Colombo in the first three years.

An increase in tourist arrivals during that period would make development of the Palaly airport in the North feasible, the presentation said. The company expressed confidence that the Sri Lankan diaspora will support that initiative because of their links to the Jaffna peninsula. Hambantota could be used to promote travel to tourist destinations in the East.

AirAsia did a detailed study before approaching the Sri Lankan Government, official sources in Colombo said. Its team pointed out that, according to industry research, aviation had a multiplier effect of 13 times. Therefore, their investment is expected to bring steep returns to the country in terms of airport charges, tourist spending and airport tax. And it is estimated that Sri Lanka’s anticipated tourist arrivals for 2022 will rise from 5.1 million to 9.6 million through the operation of a low-cost carrier.

The company will start looking for a local joint venture partner for the PPP after in-principle approval is granted. A dedicated terminal for budget carriers, meanwhile, has been projected as essential. Such terminals designed and built to keep costs low, reduce airport tax and charges and enable quick turnaround times. AirAsia has offered its in-house experts to design and build the facility. The airline has made it clear that it would be for the use of all budget carriers servicing Sri Lanka.

4 A350 still on order is it?

It seems UL wants to get four more aircraft and it appears to be four A350 order hasn't been cancelled yet.

National carrier in search of partner, bid to buy four more aircraft: Report

“However, there is an agreement to purchase brand new four aircraft (A350-900) which are to be delivered in 2020. The Cabinet has appointed a special ministerial committee to make final decision in this regard,” the report said.

On point!

This looks really good! Let's hope AirAsia SriLanka and the proposed LCC Terminal at CMB become a reality
So this would mean apart from Air Asia Berhad and Air Asia SriLanka the other
LCC’s too will be able to operate out of this dedicated terminal, namely Malindo, Air Arabia, FlyDubai, and SpiceJet. We’d probably see IndiGo,Scoot and other LCC’s venturing into Sri Lanka too in the near future

4R-MRE painted in UL colors. Do not upload picture anywhere else on the internet.

They'd probably re-register it under a UL Code right? Say 4R-ABS maybe?

Maybe. Strange that MRE is flying already. o.O It's arriving as UL184 atm.

Not a Bad idea to have 350s since we have London and Melbourne already and expansion to Australia in the plans.

Ul/197

Today I flown to Delhi on this. Flight almost full in both business and economy. Also lot of transfer traffic from Melbourne.

Not sure about Scoot though; I am not sure if SQ will risk their premium traffic ?

Srilankan should consider operating twice daily LHR flights throughout the year if they don:t restore FRA and CDG flights back. It will be much easier for North American passengers who are travelling to Srilanka and South India. The existing evening flight leaving LHR to CMB has no good connection specially from Canada.It will also attract MEL to European travellers to some extent.

Last night's UL604 to MEL was upgraded to A333 (4R-ALM) from the scheduled A332. Not sure if this is due to load factor or unavailability of an A332 aircraft.

My guess:-

Another corrupt deal without a termination clause. That's why all the "Big Talk" about converting this order has gone quiet. The GOSL has to pay up!

Also explains why UL suddenly needed a loan - to pay off the next installment.

4 A350 cost $1.1 Billion. Normally Airlines negotiate a discount but given that this deal is all about the commissions it's quite possible they are paying full price. That means that even if they can sell the production slots they will take a huge loss as they will need to sell at at a huge discount. More huge losses for the people of Sri Lanka to pay off.

Doesn't look like there's going to be an investigation so we may never know the full story.

Another financial disaster on top of everything else.