Sri Lanka Aviation

**Serendib** · 26-09-2014, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by flylanka

I dont think the fare is the main thing. If you take CMB-MLE the prices are competitive. But all the to London it I believe is a connectivity issue. The BA flight is to LGW not LHR. LGW is predominately the hub for Caribbean Destinations, most other North and South American traffic (where to whom pax from SL would practically fly through the UK) uses LHR as hub. It is pretty competitive with QR, EK, EY offering good connections to these destinations as well.

British Airways is adjusting planned operations on London Gatwick – Male – Colombo route, which will be suspended from 29MAR15. Male is to return to BA network in Winter 2015/2016 season while Colombo service will cancelled permanently.

Previously planned 3 weekly Boeing 777-200ER operation for Summer 2015 season as follow:

BA2043 LGW1930 – 0945+1MLE1100+1 – 1300+1CMB 777 357
BA2042 CMB1430 – 1530MLE1645 – 2325LGW 777 146

source : AIRLINEROUTE NET

Any chance British Airways operating LONDON - COLOMBO - SYDNEY route?

**flylanka** · 26-09-2014, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by Serendib

British Airways is adjusting planned operations on London Gatwick – Male – Colombo route, which will be suspended from 29MAR15. Male is to return to BA network in Winter 2015/2016 season while Colombo service will cancelled permanently.

Previously planned 3 weekly Boeing 777-200ER operation for Summer 2015 season as follow:

BA2043 LGW1930 – 0945+1MLE1100+1 – 1300+1CMB 777 357
BA2042 CMB1430 – 1530MLE1645 – 2325LGW 777 146

source : AIRLINEROUTE NET

Any chance British Airways operating LONDON - COLOMBO - SYDNEY route?

No it won't work, as the current BA via SIN banks on traffic from PER, MEL, BNE who are brought into SIN by QF. Plus BA has multiple and daily flight to DEL, MAA, BOM etc in India which means that using CMB as Indian feeder passengers via UL will also wont make sense. Plus BA will be restarting KUL shortly and use MH feeder who are also part of Oneword. CMB-SYD makes no sense at all.

**4R-ADA** · 27-09-2014, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by Serendib

British Airways is adjusting planned operations on London Gatwick – Male – Colombo route, which will be suspended from 29MAR15. Male is to return to BA network in Winter 2015/2016 season while Colombo service will cancelled permanently.

Previously planned 3 weekly Boeing 777-200ER operation for Summer 2015 season as follow:

BA2043 LGW1930 – 0945+1MLE1100+1 – 1300+1CMB 777 357
BA2042 CMB1430 – 1530MLE1645 – 2325LGW 777 146

source : AIRLINEROUTE NET

Any chance British Airways operating LONDON - COLOMBO - SYDNEY route?

No chance in hell. The yields, for BA will be atrocious.
I am not surprised that BA is pulling out of CMB yet again. It was doomed to fail given that it was a low frequency service with a stop over, and from Gatwick.
Given that this is merely an extension of the existing MLE service, where 90% of the capacity was dedicated to, that means the loads to CMB could only be minimal.

The connections from LHR onto North America were missed from this operation. I know UL offer connections through LHR onwards to North America with their oneworld partners, but I feel that if BA had operated this to LHR and not LGW, the results would be better, given the far superior product BA can offer.

Hopefully this might give a chance for KLM to re-enter the market.

Sri Lankan tourism is currently booming, and the departure of BA will not create any dire impact.

**banuthev** · 27-09-2014, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by 4R-ADA

No chance in hell. The yields, for BA will be atrocious.
I am not surprised that BA is pulling out of CMB yet again. It was doomed to fail given that it was a low frequency service with a stop over, and from Gatwick.
Given that this is merely an extension of the existing MLE service, where 90% of the capacity was dedicated to, that means the loads to CMB could only be minimal.

The connections from LHR onto North America were missed from this operation. I know UL offer connections through LHR onwards to North America with their oneworld partners, but I feel that if BA had operated this to LHR and not LGW, the results would be better, given the far superior product BA can offer.

Hopefully this might give a chance for KLM to re-enter the market.

Sri Lankan tourism is currently booming, and the departure of BA will not create any dire impact.

Wondering why European Airlines are struggling to manage the Colombo flights. Anyhow these days aircraft movements have been increasing and See this video where you can see four / five planes are queueing-up for take off at CMB.

**dramirez** · 27-09-2014, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by banuthev

Wondering why European Airlines are struggling to manage the Colombo flights. Anyhow these days aircraft movements have been increasing and See this video where you can see four / five planes are queueing-up for take off at CMB.

European airlines really need their J cabins full to make these flights profitable - hard to get people coming to SL on holiday to shell out that kind of money when their competition is EK/EY/QR which have some of the best premium cabins in the sky and can also bank on frequent short flights to their hubs.

It would be interesting to see if KLM can make their way in - one thing we don't have from SL is great connections to Canada. I suspect with OneWorld UL will have codeshares with onward connections from LHR using BA.

**banuthev** · 27-09-2014, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by dramirez

European airlines really need their J cabins full to make these flights profitable - hard to get people coming to SL on holiday to shell out that kind of money when their competition is EK/EY/QR which have some of the best premium cabins in the sky and can also bank on frequent short flights to their hubs.

It would be interesting to see if KLM can make their way in - one thing we don't have from SL is great connections to Canada. I suspect with OneWorld UL will have codeshares with onward connections from LHR using BA.

Is it true British Airways is not allowed to do the LHR-CMB route. Its blocked by SL, to "preserve the national carrier".

**Speedbird** · 27-09-2014, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by dramirez

European airlines really need their J cabins full to make these flights profitable - hard to get people coming to SL on holiday to shell out that kind of money when their competition is EK/EY/QR which have some of the best premium cabins in the sky and can also bank on frequent short flights to their hubs...

This is partially true; but there are more. Operating into CMB is now very expensive compared to MAA. AASL is completely mismanaged and CMB is now cross subsidizing HRI. Landing costs are very high and Jet A1 very expensive. almost at same price point compared to MLE. Previously flights operating MLE stopped in CMB just for fuel uplifting; today when the price point is same there is no need for the said flight to operate to CMB as well unless there are significant passenger uplifting from CMB as well. Remember AASL is a monopoly in SL. so they can command any price they want. but airlines are not interested in CMB if they do not see significant business/PAX loads.

Originally posted by banuthev

Is it true British Airways is not allowed to do the LHR-CMB route. Its blocked by SL, to "preserve the national carrier".

Yes thats true CAA SL/AASL is now run buy political whims...end of the day flying customer pays a premium for the flight ticket.

**flylanka** · 27-09-2014, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Is it true British Airways is not allowed to do the LHR-CMB route. Its blocked by SL, to "preserve the national carrier".

Well even if UL is doing so ... there is nothing wrong with it... the Canadian Government does similar thing to protect Air Canada. SQ operated YVR (Vancouver) via ICN and were able to get only 3 slots a weeks. Repeated attempts to increase slots were denied to protect AC and SQ dropped route. (Both SQ and AC are members of Star Alliance). Also EK at the moment is unable to operate more than 3 flights a week to Toronto from DXB eventhough there is demand. Again AC and Canadian Govt Restrictions.

**dramirez** · 27-09-2014, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by flylanka

Well even if UL is doing so ... there is nothing wrong with it... the Canadian Government does similar thing to protect Air Canada. SQ operated YVR (Vancouver) via ICN and were able to get only 3 slots a weeks. Repeated attempts to increase slots were denied to protect AC and SQ dropped route. (Both SQ and AC are members of Star Alliance). Also EK at the moment is unable to operate more than 3 flights a week to Toronto from DXB eventhough there is demand. Again AC and Canadian Govt Restrictions.

Sorry, I completely disagree... there is everything wrong with it! And you have just described how Canadian protectionism is stifling business and not allowing organic growth to the airlines... by UL in the case of LHR-CMB and by the Canadian govt in the case of EK.

**Speedbird** · 27-09-2014, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by flylanka

Well even if UL is doing so ... there is nothing wrong with it... the Canadian Government does similar thing to protect Air Canada. SQ operated YVR (Vancouver) via ICN and were able to get only 3 slots a weeks. Repeated attempts to increase slots were denied to protect AC and SQ dropped route. (Both SQ and AC are members of Star Alliance). Also EK at the moment is unable to operate more than 3 flights a week to Toronto from DXB eventhough there is demand. Again AC and Canadian Govt Restrictions.

There is a difference SQ/EK/EY and QR are requesting more frequencies. That is a change in bilateral agreement between Singapore & Canada; UAE & Canada. EK/EY and QR want to dump excess seats. Where as Canadian government especially mentioned to UAE and QR governments that 80+% are transit PAXs. No one in Canada want to protect heavily unionized AC. But what ever said it is matter of time before UAE and Qatari bilateral changes to open skies. Protecting "national" carrier is old business model. which does stand today where it is more focused towards protecting the customer; which legislation are enacted as we speak.

now lets look at UL operating to LHR. where as only UL is operating from LHR imagine if the British Govt. requested UL to operate CMB flight from Stansted. No UK Government/CAA would not do that it will let the airport operators within UK to determine the slots and cost within the framework of bilateral.

**ak892** · 27-09-2014, 09:40 PM

Why UL is late: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140928/new...ag-120196.html

**banuthev** · 27-09-2014, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by ak892

Why UL is late: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140928/new...ag-120196.html

Not a good news is it? In Aug UL was late due to ABG left the fleet and ABQ and ALB were sent for maint/cabin upgrade. On the 23rd Aug, KUL flight was very late as ALD returned to base due to hydraulic problem. Also president took ADE with him to SEZ and DEL for his entourage.

**banuthev** · 28-09-2014, 10:37 AM

Colombo CMB Winter 2014 International Flight Network.

Highlights

Brandnew A330-300 of SriLankan going to operate the new service to Tokyo in Nov;
SriLankan reveal codeshare agreeement with Qantas via Singapore;
SriLankan increase Moscow flights from 2 to 3 weekly;
Cathay Pacific introduce 4 weekly nonstop flights between Hong Kong and Colombo. Other 3 weekly via Bangkok;
Thai Airways to replace Thai Smile service;
LOT Polish Airlines to operate charter service to Colombo onboard B787 from 4th Nov 14. Sked : Tue LO6521/2 : CMB-STA08:10 - CMB-STD10:50;
SriLankan increase Singapore flights from 14 to 19 weekly;
SriLankan reduce Muscat flights from daily to 4 weekly;
Turkish Airlines operates daily service to Colombo onboard A333;
SriLankan upgrades Karachi flights from A320 to A321;
Mihin Lanka launches Lahore service from 17-Nov;
Mihin Lanka downgrade Bahrain service from 6 to 5 weekly;
SriLankan Airlines planning Kunming flights end of 2014;
Mihin Lanka increase Seychelles flights from 2 to 3 weekly;
Air India Express cancel Colombo flights;
SriLankan downgrade Dammam service from 4 to 3 weekly;

link : http://www.airsrilanka.org/forum/upl...winter2014.pdf

**Serendib** · 29-09-2014, 04:25 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

SriLankan reduce Muscat flights from daily to 4 weekly;
Mihin Lanka downgrade Bahrain service from 6 to 5 weekly;
SriLankan downgrade Dammam service from 4 to 3 weekly;

Any chance Gulf Air re-entering Colombo market?

**4R-ALA** · 30-09-2014, 09:47 AM

UL second a321 4rabr in colombo xD

Sri Lanka Aviation

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