Sri Lanka Aviation

With business booming for SriLankan from increased tourist and other arrivals to the country, aircraft manufacturers aggressively peddling their merchandise in Colombo and the frontrunner according to aviation insiders this time is America’s Boeing.

Ready for flights next year: Mattala int'l airport takes shape

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/02/20/fea09.asp

After a gap of more than three years, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed flights for Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 19, 2011. PIA will operate thrice-a-week non-stop service between Karachi and Colombo on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The flight PK-874 on February 19 was operated with an Airbus A310-300

PTV News report about flight operated on February 19.



Abbas

Boeing may win SriLankan 777 order. Boeing is the front runner to win a new wide-body order from SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka’s The Nation reported Sunday.

This is fantastic news! To see a Boeing 777 aircraft would be something we can be proud of since it's a very popular and efficient aircraft.

What 777 models are they looking at? Im assuming maybe 773ERs and a few used 772ERs in the interim. IMHO they could potentially replace the A343 fleet with a combination of A333s and 773ERs. Could UL also get 772LRs to do a direct service to America/Canada?

Oman Air - Colombo and Male service sees 1 extra weekly flight on WY371 service, operating on Mondays, therefore overall service between Colombo and Male increases to 5 weekly starting 6th June 2011. Oman Air is also operating 1 weekly Muscat to Colombo to Muscat using B73J.

SriLankan's Kochi flights are re-starting from 28-March-2011. It will be a daily service using A320.

How Should SriLankan’s 777-200ER be configured - by Kflyer


more updates coming soon ...

Appreciate some realistic pictures that would give better image of whats happening on ground.

The whole thing does really make any sense at all. If this story was true you have to think that Boeing is in a really desperate situation to be peddling second hand planes to now what is a third class ariline... and Boeing is NOT desperate..... It would make sense if they tried to pitch the 787 atleaset....

Secondly whatever the armchair aviation experts here have to say the A340 is still an efficient plane and suits UL's needs perfectly for the routes they are serving. They need to think of the 777 should they want to serve the Americas........... which they are not going to in the near future.

It does not make sense for UL to order 777s and bear the associated infrastructure costs with it when the 777 is essentially going to be outdated and go the A340 way in around 10 years time. The best option for UL for the short term future is do what they are doing now; lease newer A340-330X frames which are essentially 10 years old or so and phase out the older ones. On a long term goal they can think about leasing A350-900s (I don't think UL will be in a position to be ordering planes outright for a couple of more years). Going the A350 way suits UL... they already have the infrastructure and the pilots don't have to be type certified....

Bilateral agreements have been signed to strengthen civil aviation services between Sri Lanka and Britain.

http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/5919-bilateral-agreements-have-been-signed-to-strengthen-civil-aviation-services-between-sri-lanka-and-britain-

SriLankan Airlines secure more frequencies to UK. Moves to fly to Canada on the cards

Managing Director PIA Capt. Nadeem Yousufzai said that Pakistan is intends to initiate a flight to Colombo from Lahore and that he had held talks with Sri Lankan Civil Aviation officials in this respect.

Mihin Lanka launches new Flight Booking Engine. Access it via : http://fly.mihinlanka.com

Jazeera Airways A320 9K-CAA (2569) will be ferried from Kuwait City to Amman late Feb 2011 prior to delivery to SriLankan as 4R-ABL.



more updates coming soon ...

SriLankan Airlines continues to expand its global route network, with increases in capacity starting in March to Karachi, Bahrain, Doha and Muscat, and the launch of a daily service to Kochi. Just last November, SriLankan increased capacity across its network in support of Sri Lanka's rapidly expanding tourism industry which is enjoying good times following the permanent end to a 30-year war. Tourist arrivals grew by 46% in 2010.

Sri Lankan Airlines to re-start Kochi service, up capacity to Middle East

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/f...?nid=217133263

Will Sri lankan be flying to Toronto,Canada this Year,Am waiting for a good news