Sri Lanka Aviation

**lordvader** · 20-05-2012, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by Banuthev

Seat & Cabin Upgradation applied onto all Wide-body aircraft except ADA, ADB, ADC & ALG. So far Upgradation completed for three A332s (incl ALA, ALB & ALC) and one A343 (ADF). ALJ, ADE & ALD will soon be upgraded. Not sure about ALH.

SriLankan Airlines will replace ADA, ADB & ADC by 2014. About replacing ADE, ADF & ADG not yet confirmed since their leases are not going to complete for next four years.

Thanks for the update Banu. Hopefully they will install the new economy class on all widebody aircraft (including ALA-ALC which AFAIK only had their Business Class upgraded). The IFE and seats in economy class had been a big source of complaints for UL on Skytrax.

Originally posted by Banuthev

In my opinion , Mihin Lanka must now focus only on Tier-II destinations in South Asia and leave the rest of the destinations (incl Far East and Gulf) to SriLankan Airlines.

Yep agreed with you there. IMHO UL should take over MJ's Kuwait, Dubai, Dhaka, Manila and Jakarta service. MJ should maybe fly to Chittagong, Yangon, Kathmandu, Tier 2 Indian and Pakistani destinations and possibly some cities in CIS countries. The service to Sharjah should be kept and maybe RAK and Beirut could be added by MJ?

**banuthev** · 20-05-2012, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by lordvader

Yep agreed with you there. IMHO UL should take over MJ's Kuwait, Dubai, Dhaka, Manila and Jakarta service. MJ should maybe fly to Chittagong, Yangon, Kathmandu, Tier 2 Indian and Pakistani destinations and possibly some cities in CIS countries. The service to Sharjah should be kept and maybe RAK and Beirut could be added by MJ?

MJ already given up the Kuwait route which is now being operated as Daily nonstop by UL. Manila not yet started.

Originally posted by Cayman

77W should be able to operate CMB-YYZ-CMB without penalties, although it may be pushing it closer to the edge. However, like mentioned above it does not make sense to re-invent the wheel with Boeing just for the sake of a couple of frames.
UL should get this idiotic idea off their heads that opening up new routes to all the fancy cities is going to help them keep their nose above the water.
They need to increase frequnecy in to their existing posts and solidify their position and make a profit first before embarking on extravagant projects.
Operating daily direct flights to Asian / Chinese destinations should be their priority.

Currently UL focuses only on increasing the number of flights to existing destinations in Asia where UL can make profit. E.g. From July 2012, flights to China, Japan and Thailand to be increased and A343 service to European flights will be reduced inorder to increase more capacity on profit making Asian flights.

To cut down the double landing charges, handling costs and fuel costs, UL has delinked the DXB-KWI and KUL-SIN routes where UL now operating the daily terminator flights. UL is not interested in Toronto but there are possibilities to launch flights to Seoul in 2013.

**Max** · 20-05-2012, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by Banuthev

Code:

Mihin Lanka Network May - July 2012
Dhaka            - Six weekly
Dubai            - Three weekly
Jakarta          - Four weekly
Sharjah          - Four weekly
Trichy           - Four weekly

In my opinion , Mihin Lanka must now focus only on Tier-II destinations in South Asia and leave the rest of the destinations (incl Far East and Gulf) to SriLankan Airlines.

It will be better if MJ can replace Dubai, Sharjah & Trichy with Lucknow, Goa & Madurai.

**Serendib** · 20-05-2012, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Max

It will be better if MJ can replace Dubai, Sharjah & Trichy with Lucknow, Goa & Madurai.

International status likely for Lucknow, Varanasi airports | Lucknow News - Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/International-status-likely-for-Lucknow-Varanasi-airports/articleshow/13310053.cms

The two airports, which though have international flights operating from them, essentially to West Asia and Nepal, have an integrated status.

International Airport Status for Madurai granted?

**Max** · 20-05-2012, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by Serendib

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13310053.cms

International Airport Status for Madurai granted?

Yes - http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/ma...colombo-202394

**Sakith** · 20-05-2012, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by ihsan

^^ Wish they had a screen between the biz-seats for more privacy

there is a screen. u can take it out if u like

**SSCMK** · 20-05-2012, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by Serendib

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13310053.cms

International Airport Status for Madurai granted?

Originally posted by Max

Yes - http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/ma...colombo-202394

Guys, a small clarification. International status not yet granted for Madurai airport. Madurai airport still don't satisfy the requirements for International status like 9000+ ft long runway, etc,. but works are underway (somewhat slow) like Land is being acquired to expand runway length to 12500 ft long, etc.

But, international aircrafts are possible with the existing infra like A320s are very much suited for Madurai airport (Present runway length is 7500 ft long) and terminal could handle 500 people at a time. Customs officers are already in place. Only thing is flight service is not there which is expected to be commenced by SpiceJet (We didn't see Mihin Lanka or SriLankan airlines applied using our RTI Act in India).

**kenkari** · 21-05-2012, 01:26 PM

Aerosvit Changes to W12 Kiev – Colombo Operation
by JL
Update at 1000GMT 18MAY12

Aerosvit starting 28OCT12 once again will operate Kiev – Colombo winter seasonal service, however operation to is scheduled to be twice a week for entire winter.

In Winter 2011/12, the airline operated this route 2 to 3 times a week, pending on the week of operation.

Schedule effective 28OCT12:

VV175 KBP1500 – 0310+1CMB 763 36
VV176 CMB0440 – 1010KBP 763 47

News | Routes

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/18/vv-cmb-w12/

Routes is the home of the world’s leading aviation network development conferences and events. Plus aviation news and features, and profiles of global airlines and airports.

**kenkari** · 21-05-2012, 03:33 PM

Air Arabia increases Sharjah – Colombo 15JUN12 – 15SEP12 from daily to 9 weekly.

News | Routes

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/21/g9-s12/

Routes is the home of the world’s leading aviation network development conferences and events. Plus aviation news and features, and profiles of global airlines and airports.

**skyline** · 21-05-2012, 09:52 PM

Originally posted by Banuthev

Currently UL focuses only on increasing the number of flights to existing destinations in Asia where UL can make profit. E.g. From July 2012, flights to China, Japan and Thailand to be increased and A343 service to European flights will be reduced inorder to increase more capacity on profit making Asian flights.

To cut down the double landing charges, handling costs and fuel costs, UL has delinked the DXB-KWI and KUL-SIN routes where UL now operating the daily terminator flights. UL is not interested in Toronto but there are possibilities to launch flights to Seoul in 2013.

Does anyone have Srilankan airlines ICN flight schedule???

http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/05/22/bus01.asp

"" SriLankan Airlines will launch flights to South Korea from November this year. UL plans to operate three flights a week. these flights would have a stop over in Bangkok. “The airline is on a mammoth expansion plan and we are looking at adding new destinations and increasing frequencies, "

**uthum** · 21-05-2012, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by skyline

Does anyone have Srilankan airlines ICN flight schedule???

"" SriLankan Airlines will launch flights to South Korea from November this year. UL plans to operate three flights a week. these flights would have a stop over in Bangkok. “The airline is on a mammoth expansion plan and we are looking at adding new destinations and increasing frequencies, "

I don't think it's a good idea for the flights to ICN to have a stop in BKK. BKK-ICN is one one of the most competitive routes in Asia. 11 airlines, including Asiana, Korean Air, Thai and some other LCCs operate over 12 flights a day. UL will have do many things to attract passengers, such as having Korean speaking flight attenders on board and serving better food.

**Max** · 22-05-2012, 04:18 AM

Originally posted by uthum

I don't think it's a good idea for the flights to ICN to have a stop in BKK. BKK-ICN is one one of the most competitive routes in Asia. 11 airlines, including Asiana, Korean Air, Thai and some other LCCs operate over 12 flights a day. UL will have do many things to attract passengers, such as having Korean speaking flight attenders on board and serving better food.

It will be better if SriLankan Airlines can sign the code-sharing agreement with Korean Air.

Also CMB-ICN via SIN will be better.

**banuthev** · 22-05-2012, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by uthum

I don't think it's a good idea for the flights to ICN to have a stop in BKK. BKK-ICN is one one of the most competitive routes in Asia. 11 airlines, including Asiana, Korean Air, Thai and some other LCCs operate over 12 flights a day. UL will have do many things to attract passengers, such as having Korean speaking flight attenders on board and serving better food.

UL is already flying on the most competitive route which is BKK-HKG for over 15 Years successfully. IMHO UL can make the BKK-ICN success ! As far as I heard , UL is planning to replace the three weekly BKK-PVG with three weekly BKK-ICN. Three weekly PVG is going to be operated as Nonstop.

Colombo to Bangkok Flight Schedule for July - October 2012

01:25 - 06:25 - UL888 - EQV - CMB-BKK-PEK - WE.FR.SU.
01.25 - 06:25 - UL886 - EQV - CMB-BKK-PVG - MO.TU.TH.SA.
07:10 - 12:10 - UL882 - EQV - CMB-BKK-CAN - TU.WE.FR.SU.
07:20 - 12:15 - UL422 - EQV - CMB-BKK-HKG - MO.TH.SA.
14:20 - 19:20 - UL896 - EQV - CMB-BKK-PVG - TU.TH.SA.
14:20 - 19:20 - UL898 - EQV - CMB-BKK-PEK - MO.WE.FR.SU.

EQV - Operate by A332 or A343

**SSCMK** · 22-05-2012, 03:18 PM

Mihin Lanka increases its flight frequencies

Minister of Civil Aviation, Piyankara Jayaratne states Mihin Lanka has made arrangements to increase its flight frequencies to serve people with utmost dedication.

The flight frequencies to Sharjah have been increased to three with effect from March while flights frequencies to Jakarta has increased to four. The measure are afoot to obtain the approval to commence two destinations up to Philippines, Minister said.

Speaking further he said that flights frequencies to Bangladesh have already been increased to six and the current fleet of Mihin Lanka would also be increased to 3.

More plans are drawn to commence new destinations to Bahrain, Madurai, Kathmandu and Myanmar while flight frequencies to Jakarta to increase to 7.

Mihin Lanka, which started its operations in April 2007, flies to Dubai, Boddh Gaya, Tiruchirapalli, Varanasi, Kuwait, Maldives, Jakarta, Sharjah, Bangkok, Trivandrum, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kochi, Chennai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Some of the flights are on a code-share basis with Sri Lankan Airlines.

Asian Mirror

http://www.asianmirror.lk/english/index.php/topstory/8039-mihin-lanka-increases-its-flight-frequencies

Empowering Opinion

**SSCMadurai** · 22-05-2012, 05:28 PM

Guys can anyone confirm on the recent developments on Mihin's Madurai plans. This story has been going on for a while. No progress in that(atleast it seems). Every now and then we are seeing some report like the one posted above.

Sri Lanka Aviation

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