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**Mach3** · 14-01-2020, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

Emirates flight hits fox and bird at Mattala
View(s): 3303

An Emirates Boeing 777 which was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) owing to bad weather hit a fox on landing and birds on take-off, aviation officials confirmed.

MRIA no longer takes scheduled flights. It is used only for emergency purposes. On the day of the incident, November 18, there was bad weather at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

The Emirates flight, EK652, arrived from Dubai via Male around 6.57pm. Upon landing it ran into a fox. The aircraft was examined by the maintenance crew of SriLankan and cleared for take-off to BIA after the weather settled. However, just minutes later the same aircraft suffered a birdstrike.

It was the first time since MRIA was opened in 2013 that an Emirates passenger flight used the airport. There were 73 persons on board and nobody disembarked, the Airport Manager said at the time, adding that it had departed after refuelling. Neither the bird strike nor fox strike were revealed to the public.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) confirmed the incidents and said the aircraft had not been damaged. Pilots have, however, expressed concern previously at the prevalence of wildlife at the barely-used MRIA which was built on land cleared of jungle that was the home of elephants and other animals. In April 2018, nearly 170 passengers were stranded for hours at MRIA when their Flydubai Boeing aircraft suffered a bird strike. The flight landed past 7am and was cleared to fly at 2.32pm after an engineering check.

Bird strikes are not uncommon in airports and there were 83 reported in Sri Lanka in 2018 alone. Forty-two of these were at BIA. It is not, however, usual for aircraft to hit other animals?such as, in this instance, foxes?on the runway.

Last year, between June and November, there were at least seven diversions to MRIA. Six of them were SriLankan flights.

Just shows the state at which the airport is really in. Almost no aircraft operations which makes the animals think that the airport is also part of its habitat, Actually is since it is in the middle of their jungle.

The current regime also has almost forgotten MRIA ironically, with no real infrastructure developments or plans of revival. I believe even they have swallowed the better pill and accepted that this airport is a mere white elephant.Instead What really should have been done was a second runway for BIA or Expanding China-bay into an International airport, we would have not have even wanted JAF.

Also BTW on a side note is the ATC of BIA and Colombo center taking unwanted efforts on diverting flights even for the slightest of bad weather since I cannot recall this many flights being diverted from BIA when the MRIA was non existed.Is it all done just in a bid to try and increase aircraft movements one way or other.

**channa** · 14-01-2020, 04:54 PM

Qatar Airways fifth DOH-CMB-DOH flight not in service again

Originally posted by 4R-ALA View Post

Even UL has increased its 11 flight a week to DOH to 13 a week

QR 656/657 not flying since January 11th.

**channa** · 15-01-2020, 03:47 AM

Mattala Airport Resumption

Page not found - Aviation Voice

http://www.aviationvoice.lk/minister-instructs-resume-operations-mattala-airport-soon/

Mattala Airport still has no demand for international traffic and good only for domestic traffic with a small aircraft between CMB and HRI. The infrastructure has still need to be developed more to attract more passengers. UL is going to loose money from this

**ejanson65** · 15-01-2020, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by channa View Post

http://www.aviationvoice.lk/minister...-airport-soon/

Mattala Airport still has no demand for international traffic and good only for domestic traffic with a small aircraft between CMB and HRI. The infrastructure has still need to be developed more to attract more passengers. UL is going to loose money from this

It doesn't matter what infrastructure gets built - there is simply no market and never will be. All this does is throw away even more money.

This is what you get when development is driven by Politics and not Economics.

Don't forget all the other useless stuff down there.

-A port with no ships
-A Cricket ground where almost no matches are played
-A Conference centre with no conferences

Anything I missed?

It costs money to maintain these things - perhaps the GOSL should publish these costs so everyone can see the colossal waste of money for themselves.

Somehow I doubt these figures will ever be published.

**Serendib** · 17-01-2020, 05:36 AM

SriLankan Airlines to retrofit oddball 4R-ALS A330-200

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) will finally retrofit one of its six A330-200s, 4R-ALS (msn 1008), in order to standardize its cabin in line with the rest of the carrier's A330-200 longhaul fleet, The Sunday Morning newspaper has reported.

"The seats have been ordered for the refurbishment of the cabin and we expect the seats to arrive in about four to five months. Once the seats arrive, we will immediately refurbish and fit the necessary seats, and then it will be operational for long-haul flights," Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka said.

He added that the retrofit is expected to take place within the next six months.

SriLankan leased the 10.8-year-old widebody from AerCap in 2017 as a settlement in lieu of the cancellation of an order for four new A350-900s. However, as it is configured with 288 economy class seats (against the 251-256 on the other five A330-200s operated by the airline) and 42 business class seats (against 18 on the other aircraft), its usage has always been cumbersome for the airline.

"The former government agreed to unacceptable conditions when they cancelled the A350-900 deal and a condition of the deal was for us to pay a lump sum as well as to take over this aircraft. But it was taken over without the approval of the Engineering Department," Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga said.

SriLankan Airlines sub-leased the aircraft to Hi Fly (5K, Beja) but took it back in October 2018. It was finally deployed into revenue service in mid-February 2019. However, due to its configuration, it has been used predominantly on regional and medium-haul services, primarily to Mal? in the Maldives, India, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf, including Umrah flights to Jeddah. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows the aircraft had been grounded for extended periods often during the year of operations for SriLankan.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the aircraft's utilisation averaged just 2 hours 14 minutes per day between January and September 2019.

Besides the six A330-200s, SriLankan Airlines also operates five A320-200s, two A320-200neo, two A321-200s, four A321-200neo, and seven A330-300s.

Source:ch aviation

**Serendib** · 21-01-2020, 04:03 PM

SriLankan Airlines to reaume flights to Paris and Frankfurt

SriLankan Airlines will resume services to Paris and Frankfurt in the near future, State Minister of Tourism Promotion Affairs and Aviation, Arundika Fernando said.

?We started our discussion with the Civil Aviation Sector to restart at least two flights from Germany and one of the destinations in Europe,? Fernando said whilst addressing a media conference in Colombo today (21).

The conference was held in the presence of Chandra Wickramasinghe, the Chairman and Managing Director of Connaissance de Ceylan and Theme Resorts & Spas, Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson of the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority and Michelle Sala?n, the Chairman of Sala?n Holidays.

?We have already submitted a proposal in this regard. Hence, if we start this flight service to Germany and France we can continue doing so,? Minister noted.

SriLankan airlines announced that it would suspend its flights to Frankfurt and Paris in October and November 2016 respectively.

Accordingly, the last flights between Frankfurt and Colombo (UL 553/554) operated on October 30, 2016, while UL 563/564 on November 6, 2016, concluded the operations between Paris and Colombo.

Source:adederana

**4R-ADA** · 21-01-2020, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

SriLankan Airlines to reaume flights to Paris and Frankfurt

SriLankan Airlines will resume services to Paris and Frankfurt in the near future, State Minister of Tourism Promotion Affairs and Aviation, Arundika Fernando said.

?We started our discussion with the Civil Aviation Sector to restart at least two flights from Germany and one of the destinations in Europe,? Fernando said whilst addressing a media conference in Colombo today (21).

The conference was held in the presence of Chandra Wickramasinghe, the Chairman and Managing Director of Connaissance de Ceylan and Theme Resorts & Spas, Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson of the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority and Michelle Sala?n, the Chairman of Sala?n Holidays.

?We have already submitted a proposal in this regard. Hence, if we start this flight service to Germany and France we can continue doing so,? Minister noted.

SriLankan airlines announced that it would suspend its flights to Frankfurt and Paris in October and November 2016 respectively.

Accordingly, the last flights between Frankfurt and Colombo (UL 553/554) operated on October 30, 2016, while UL 563/564 on November 6, 2016, concluded the operations between Paris and Colombo.

Source:adederana

Is there capacity with existing frames to undertake this? Assuming each city will need to be 3 weekly flights each at the minimum.

**Serendib** · 23-01-2020, 04:14 AM

UL mulls resuming services to European destinations with subsidies from tourism authorities

SriLankan Airlines is considering a proposal to resume direct fights to Paris, Rome and Frankfurt, within few months, with subsidies from the country?s tourism authorities, to attract more Western European tourists to the island nation.

?We have submitted a proposal from the Tourism Ministry to resume direct flights to Europe and in return. We are willing to provide subsidies for SriLankan Airlines to cover the potential operational losses to these destinations initially,? Tourism Promotion State Minister Arundika Fernando revealed.

Speaking to Mirror Business, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage confirmed that the national carrier has received a request to resume direct flights to European destinations.
However, he noted that SriLankan is yet to make a final decision
on this.
According to Fernando, SriLankan is likely to operate two flights weekly to Frankfurt initially.

SriLankan pulled out of Paris, Frankfurt and Rome in late 2016, as an attempt to cut losses while focusing more on the region.

In 2016, tourist arrivals from France, Germany and Italy grew by 12 percent year-on-year (YoY), 15 percent YoY and 22.6 percent YoY, respectively.

However, the tourist arrival growth from France and Italy slowed down 0.9 YoY and 5.5 percent YoY in 2017, following the termination of direct flights to these destinations while the tourist arrivals from Germany declined by 2.3 percent. (NF)

Source : daily mirror

**Serendib** · 24-01-2020, 06:27 AM

SriLankan Airlines to add new aircraft

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of the island nation, is planning to ramp up operations in India within this calendar year (2020). This would include adding new destinations such as Ahmedabad and Calicut ? and an increase in frequency from existing cities such as Kolkata, Coimbatore and Hyderabad.

The airlines currently operates out of 11 cities in India (to Colombo) which include four flights a day from Chennai; a double daily flight from Mumbai and Bengaluru, and one flight daily each from Madurai, Tiruchi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. This apart, it flies three times a day from Delhi. It has four flights a week from Coimbatore and six flights a week from Hyderabad. From Kolkata it has three flights a week to Colombo. According to V Ravindran, Regional Manager ? India & Bangladesh, SriLankan Airlines Ltd, operational ramp up is expected once fleet expansion happens by August.

?We are looking to start operations from Ahmedabad and Calicut as the new aircraft, an Airbus, is added to our fleet. This should happen by end of 2020. This apart we will gradually increase flight frequencies from existing destinations like Kolkata, Hyderabad and Coimbatore as stability in operations (from new Indian cities) happen,? he told BusinessLine.

SriLankan Airlines has already placed orders for two Airbuses, a wide-bodied A-331 that will be used for longer routes (above 4 hours of flying time) and a narrow bodied A-320 for shorter routes (less than 4 hours). The latter will primarily help service operations from India. Its present fleet strength stands at 26.

Sri Lanka which had emerged as one of the go-to destinations for Indians in recent times suffered a set-back with the Easter bombings earlier in 2019. However, there has now been a pick-up of tourist flow from the sub-continent. Obviously, this has helped the airlines explore expansion of operations here.

Plans to reduce losses
Nearly, 20 per cent of SriLankan Airlines? revenues come from Indian operations; with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai (together) accounting for approximately 70 per cent of its revenues. According to Ravindran, operations here are still not profitable. This despite the fact, that flights have a near 85-95 seat occupancy ratio. Different factors like cost structures and increasing competition has some impact towards profitablity. However, plans are afoot to reduce losses.

?Some of our routes are profitable. And some are not. We are continuously working on our cost structure to improve profitability. We are also looking at more point-to-point sales,? he said.

Published on January 24, 2020

Source:daily mirror

**Haleef** · 24-01-2020, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

SriLankan Airlines to add new aircraft

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of the island nation, is planning to ramp up operations in India within this calendar year (2020). This would include adding new destinations such as Ahmedabad and Calicut ? and an increase in frequency from existing cities such as Kolkata, Coimbatore and Hyderabad.

The airlines currently operates out of 11 cities in India (to Colombo) which include four flights a day from Chennai; a double daily flight from Mumbai and Bengaluru, and one flight daily each from Madurai, Tiruchi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. This apart, it flies three times a day from Delhi. It has four flights a week from Coimbatore and six flights a week from Hyderabad. From Kolkata it has three flights a week to Colombo. According to V Ravindran, Regional Manager ? India & Bangladesh, SriLankan Airlines Ltd, operational ramp up is expected once fleet expansion happens by August.

?We are looking to start operations from Ahmedabad and Calicut as the new aircraft, an Airbus, is added to our fleet. This should happen by end of 2020. This apart we will gradually increase flight frequencies from existing destinations like Kolkata, Hyderabad and Coimbatore as stability in operations (from new Indian cities) happen,? he told BusinessLine.

SriLankan Airlines has already placed orders for two Airbuses, a wide-bodied A-331 that will be used for longer routes (above 4 hours of flying time) and a narrow bodied A-320 for shorter routes (less than 4 hours). The latter will primarily help service operations from India. Its present fleet strength stands at 26.

Sri Lanka which had emerged as one of the go-to destinations for Indians in recent times suffered a set-back with the Easter bombings earlier in 2019. However, there has now been a pick-up of tourist flow from the sub-continent. Obviously, this has helped the airlines explore expansion of operations here.

Plans to reduce losses
Nearly, 20 per cent of SriLankan Airlines? revenues come from Indian operations; with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai (together) accounting for approximately 70 per cent of its revenues. According to Ravindran, operations here are still not profitable. This despite the fact, that flights have a near 85-95 seat occupancy ratio. Different factors like cost structures and increasing competition has some impact towards profitablity. However, plans are afoot to reduce losses.

?Some of our routes are profitable. And some are not. We are continuously working on our cost structure to improve profitability. We are also looking at more point-to-point sales,? he said.

Published on January 24, 2020

Source:daily mirror

What's an A331 and also why A320? Could have gone for more widebodies.

**banuthev** · 24-01-2020, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Haleef View Post

What's an A331 and also why A320? Could have gone for more widebodies.

I wonder which A330 version going to take UL? -200 or -300? Is it part of cancellation of A350 deal?

**Serendib** · 25-01-2020, 03:19 AM

AASL to offer incentives to LCCs to launch international services to Ratmalana and Mattala airports

ReadAruna.lk

January 25, 2020
Online edition
BUSINESS
AASL to promote Ratmalana, Mattala airports through incentives to budget airlines
JANUARY 22, 2020 BY CHARINDRA 0 COMMENTS
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The Airport & Aviation Services in Sri Lanka (AASL) is offering a host of incentives to international budget airlines to fly to the Ratmalana International Airport and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).

The incentives include subsidised air handling and fuel charges, AASL Chairman Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri told The Sunday Morning Business today (22) afternoon.

?If airlines are interested they must come and discuss with us. We are giving all the facilities they could ever need. They will never get a package like this anywhere in Asia,? he said.

He added that the AASL is scheduled to have a meeting with Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives, later today (22) to encourage them to fly to Ratmalana.

The main aim of these initiatives is to boost annual tourist arrival figures by 20%. In addition, it is also expected to reduce congestion at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), which has a capacity to handle 6 million passengers per annum but is currently handling around 10 million.

It would also benefit the tourists who are visiting the coastal areas Down South, due to the shorter distance from the airport.

The AASL said it is also providing several benefits and facilities to domestic airlines to begin new ventures using Ratmalana or Mattala as a hub.

The Ratmalana airport was classified as an international airport in October 2019, from its status as a domestic airport prior to that.

Source : morning lk

**Serendib** · 26-01-2020, 08:43 AM

Domestic flights between Jaffna to Colombo will start from 01st of February 2020. Fits Air will start their operations with an ATR-72 according to a time schedule. As per the schedule the flights will operate every three days per week like Monday, Wednesday & Saturday. The flight will depart around 7.30 am from Rathmalana airport and it will leave from Jaffna around 9.30am.

An one way ticket will cost around 7500LKR.

**skyline** · 26-01-2020, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

SriLankan Airlines to add new aircraft

?We are looking to start operations from Ahmedabad and Calicut as the new aircraft, an Airbus, is added to our fleet. This should happen by end of 2020. This apart we will gradually increase flight frequencies from existing destinations like Kolkata, Hyderabad and Coimbatore as stability in operations (from new Indian cities) happen,? he told BusinessLine.

SriLankan Airlines has already placed orders for two Airbuses, a wide-bodied A-331 that will be used for longer routes (above 4 hours of flying time) and a narrow bodied A-320 for shorter routes (less than 4 hours). The latter will primarily help service operations from India. Its present fleet strength stands at 26.

Published on January 24, 2020

Source:daily mirror

good news!

**channa** · 26-01-2020, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

Domestic flights between Jaffna to Colombo will start from 01st of February 2020. Fits Air will start their operations with an ATR-72 according to a time schedule. As per the schedule the flights will operate every three days per week like Monday, Wednesday & Saturday. The flight will depart around 7.30 am from Rathmalana airport and it will leave from Jaffna around 9.30am.

An one way ticket will cost around 7500LKR.

There should be connectivity from CMB too

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