Sri Lanka Aviation

**4R-ADA** · 16-01-2015, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by budgetcarrier

So what will they do with Mattala airport now? Seems a waste to just abandon it.

Agree, it does seem like a waste to just totally abandon it. It is good news that UL are going to abandon serving this loss-making "city", however I really hope that there is some other strategy being formulated to make use of this, either as:

1) Cargo airport
2) MRO facility
3) Low-cost/charter airport (like what Clark is to Manila)

**ejanson65** · 16-01-2015, 09:25 AM

Originally posted by budgetcarrier

So what will they do with Mattala airport now? Seems a waste to just abandon it.

There may not be any choice - it will cost a lot of money to keep this airport open. Enough public funds have already been wasted on this - money the country doesn't have.

I don't believe there is any way to make this profitable - comparing this to Mirabel/Stansted/Dulles is just wishful thinking imho.

Since the airport does not publish a Terminal Forecast (TAF) it cannot even be legally used as an alternate. The airport is completely useless.

What is needed is an independent investigation, followed by legal action against those responsible for this mess. Time for some accountability!

**Srilankan1** · 16-01-2015, 02:10 PM

I was waiting to see this news for so many years.... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled operating flights to the Hambantota International Airport at Mattala with immediate effect, officials said on Friday. The flights were cancelled from yesterday, Thursday.

“This is because the official carrier is losing massive amounts of money by operating flights to this new airport built at a cost of Rs. 27 billion in an area of 2,000 hectares by the previous regime,” an Aviation Ministry official said.

The move comes after expected changes at the national carrier following President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat at the polls. His brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe who was airline chairman has already resigned.

The official said that Mattala is a white elephant and that few are using the airline from Mattala. He added that they haven’t taken a decision on Mihin Lanka, while industry sources say that Flydubai and Rotana Jet carriers that are using the Mattala Airport will also stop flights there when the national carrier stops flights. SriLankan flies to Beijing, Shanghai, Chennai, Jeddah, Male and Colombo from Mattala. – ENDS -
- See more at: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/news-onlin....gou2POjk.dpuf

**abhijith16** · 16-01-2015, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by Srilankan1

I was waiting to see this news for so many years.... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled operating flights to the Hambantota International Airport at Mattala with immediate effect, officials said on Friday. The flights were cancelled from yesterday, Thursday.

“This is because the official carrier is losing massive amounts of money by operating flights to this new airport built at a cost of Rs. 27 billion in an area of 2,000 hectares by the previous regime,” an Aviation Ministry official said.

The move comes after expected changes at the national carrier following President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat at the polls. His brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe who was airline chairman has already resigned.

The official said that Mattala is a white elephant and that few are using the airline from Mattala. He added that they haven’t taken a decision on Mihin Lanka, while industry sources say that Flydubai and Rotana Jet carriers that are using the Mattala Airport will also stop flights there when the national carrier stops flights. SriLankan flies to Beijing, Shanghai, Chennai, Jeddah, Male and Colombo from Mattala. – ENDS -
- See more at: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/news-onlin....gou2POjk.dpuf

This should've happened ages ago. Finally, UL will have a bit of a breather.

**ejanson65** · 16-01-2015, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by abhijith16

This should've happened ages ago. Finally, UL will have a bit of a breather.

Anyone know where Kapila is? He has a lot of explaining to do....

Sad to see that the COO is still in place - he's one of the former President's loyal men.

End of HRI flights is a positive development.

**MalaysiaMustafa** · 16-01-2015, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by abhijith16

This should've happened ages ago. Finally, UL will have a bit of a breather.

Currently MJ is operating few flights out of HRI. Will that continue?

**Speedbird** · 16-01-2015, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by budgetcarrier

So what will they do with Mattala airport now? Seems a waste to just abandon it.

well some one need to come up with a US $300 million cheque. Suspension of UL flights to HRI will give some space to UL and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as well.

HRI is extremely difficult to maintain at current income level. Income even does not cover loan repayment + interest dues. Then there is the operational costs. HRI is heavily subsidized by CMB airport's monopoly income.

in the short term. it would be wise to sell this asset and recover some money (If there is a buyer). probably to a foreign entity or request SLAF to buy it and move out its lodger squadrons from SLAF Katunayake. SLAF can partially fund the purchase by selling SLAF Katunayake land to AASL. Where AASL can use that land to its expansion purpose. i.e. second runway. AASL can finance the the purchase by Second Runway construction project. SLAF also can sell SLAF Weerawila and make the HRI the primary Air Defence & Search and Rescue (SAR) airport for the south.

HRI is a classic example of a pork barrel politics. I think I could use this project as a thesis for my MBA

Finally where are the apologists???

**lordvader** · 16-01-2015, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by ejanson65

Anyone know where Kapila is? He has a lot of explaining to do....

Think that was him near the door when the Pope was disembarking in Manila? If so, guessing he might still be around? Any ideas as to when a new chairman will be appointed at this stage?

Originally posted by Speedbird

in the short term. it would be wise to sell this asset and recover some money (If there is a buyer). probably to a foreign entity or request SLAF to buy it and move out its lodger squadrons from SLAF Katunayake. SLAF can partially fund the purchase by selling SLAF Katunayake land to AASL. Where AASL can use that land to its expansion purpose. i.e. second runway. AASL can finance the the purchase by Second Runway construction project. SLAF also can sell SLAF Weerawila and make the HRI the primary Air Defence & Search and Rescue (SAR) airport for the south.

Thats a good idea. SLAF could have some use for it. Either them or if a large MRO could be convinced to use it as a facility, it might work. Some outside the box thinking must be conducted here.

**dilushasg-bdavi** · 17-01-2015, 01:13 AM

this says February 9th... it also says Moscow is an under-performing route???

Colombo Gazette - Under Construction

http://colombogazette.com/2015/01/16/srilankan-cuts-mria-operations/

Colombo Gazette is a leading news website in Sri Lanka. It provides the latest news, opinion, business, lifestyle, and more.

**ecureilx** · 17-01-2015, 05:11 AM

Originally posted by 4R-ADA

Agree, it does seem like a waste to just totally abandon it. It is good news that UL are going to abandon serving this loss-making "city", however I really hope that there is some other strategy being formulated to make use of this, either as:

1) Cargo airport
2) MRO facility
3) Low-cost/charter airport (like what Clark is to Manila)

MRO is one great idea, if they can rope in the right people to partner

Plus, SLAF can relocate there, and relieve the space in CMB, to build a second parallel runway

Of course, HRI can be used to shuttle in charter flights, for tourists, with a discounted landing fee ..

**dilushasg-bdavi** · 17-01-2015, 05:23 AM

Originally posted by ecureilx

MRO is one great idea, if they can rope in the right people to partner

Plus, SLAF can relocate there, and relieve the space in CMB, to build a second parallel runway

Of course, HRI can be used to shuttle in charter flights, for tourists, with a discounted landing fee ..

True...the SLAF Base on the other side of the runway wastes a lot of usuable space. But i dont think they have any plans for a parallel runway,,, didnt see it even in the Phase 2 Stage II development plan

**banuthev** · 17-01-2015, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by Haleef

Got some news..

Lankan Cargo's Boeing 727 is going to be scrapped (Confirmed).. Not sure about the date.. I think during this week Lankan Cargo formally known as Aero Lanka will be receiving a new aircraft for their fleet

Do you know the registration of the new aircraft Lankan Cargo receiving this month?

**dilushasg-bdavi** · 17-01-2015, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Do you know the registration of the new aircraft Lankan Cargo receiving this month?

what aircraft type are they getting this time?

**budgetcarrier** · 17-01-2015, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by ejanson65

Anyone know where Kapila is? He has a lot of explaining to do....

Sad to see that the COO is still in place - he's one of the former President's loyal men.

End of HRI flights is a positive development.

Kapila went to Manila on the same flight as the Pope. He's back now.

**Speedbird** · 18-01-2015, 02:41 AM

Looks like Rotana has pulled out of Mattala...Can anyone confirm?

Sri Lanka Aviation

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