Sri Lanka Aviation

**Aaqib** · 11-02-2021, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by banuthev

Good to see the beautiful Jazeera A320neo flying to Colombo !

Aaqib - will it affect the Kuwait Airways flights operating between KWI and CMB? I can see only once weekly KU flight to Colombo until 29-Mar-2021.

This is a really good move! I’m a huge supporter of the LCC concept and yes it would definitely affect pax volume to and form KWI mainly the yield on KU... the same example can been seen in the case of Oman Air as a result of Salam Air beginning operations

Flew WY recently and the MCT-CMB sector had around 30 pax in total... upon clarifying as to why this was as i too was pretty surprised why the load factor was so low, the answer was “because of Salam Air”

I still feel that Mihin Lanka should have been around

Similarly Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (if so they begin operations to AUH) would negatively affect Etihad

Emirates is alright on the DXB sector as Fly Dubai is their subsidiary

**Abeetha-Flyer** · 11-02-2021, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Good to see the beautiful Jazeera A320neo flying to Colombo !

Aaqib - will it affect the Kuwait Airways flights operating between KWI and CMB? I can see only once weekly KU flight to Colombo until 29-Mar-2021.

It will be really demanding if the Wizz Air Abu Dhabi decide to fly to Colombo as there is no any other low cost carrier to AUH from CMB.

**banuthev** · 11-02-2021, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by Abeetha-Flyer

It will be really demanding if the Wizz Air Abu Dhabi decide to fly to Colombo as there is no any other low cost carrier to AUH from CMB.

I can see only 4 A321neo in the Wizzair Abudhabi fleet. Most of their destinations are in Mediterranean Ukraine and Middle east if im not mistaken. Do they have fleet order for expansion?

How did Rotanajet perform on the AUH-CMB route before cease the operations?

What do you think of the current ticket prices between AUH and CMB by Etihad. I wonder why SriLankan Airlines still hasn't resumed the AUH flights. Any update on Air Arabia Abu Dhabi ?

**Abeetha-Flyer** · 11-02-2021, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

I can see only 4 A321neo in the Wizzair Abudhabi fleet. Most of their destinations are in Mediterranean Ukraine and Middle east if im not mistaken. Do they have fleet order for expansion?

How did Rotanajet perform on the AUH-CMB route before cease the operations?

What do you think of the current ticket prices between AUH and CMB by Etihad. I wonder why SriLankan Airlines still hasn't resumed the AUH flights. Any update on Air Arabia Abu Dhabi ?

Wizz Abu Dhabi has already ordered more new A321 neos as they are looking forward to expand their service to Indian subsidiaries and Africa apart of the current destinations from AUH base.

As far as I know Rotana was mainly doing charter flights and it wasn’t going very well.

It shows 31,745 LKR to go from CMB to AUH next month. Hopefully Sri Lankan will be commencing operations soon. There is no any updates yet regarding Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.

**ULfan79** · 12-02-2021, 06:26 AM

SriLankan Airlines restructures leases, secures gov't funds

10:10 UTC

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) has renegotiated several aircraft leases saving the airline USD150 million over five years as part of efforts to put the carrier on a stronger financial footing, chairman Ashok Pathirage has said without revealing the lessors or the aircraft affected.

SriLankan Airlines restructures leases, secures gov't funds

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/100334-srilankan-airlines-restructures-leases-secures-govt-funds

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) has renegotiated several aircraft leases saving the airline USD150 million over five years as part of efforts to put the carrier on a stronger financial footing, chairman Ashok Pathirage has said without revealing the lessors or the aircraft affected. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the state-owned carrier operates a fleet of 24 aircraft including five A319-100s, two A320-200Ns, one A321-200, four A321-200Ns, five A330-200s, and seven A330-300s all of which are leased from AerCap (three), Air Lease Corporation (seven), Aircastle (one), Avolon (six), Carlyle Aviation Partners (one), Park Aerospace Holdings (one), Peregrine Aviation (one), and Whitney Leasing (one). He told Economy Next magazine the state-owned airline in December had also received the first USD150 million tranche of a USD500 million state financial aid package, with the balance of USD350 million expected over two years. In addition, Pathirage said, the airline has initiated a voluntary retirement scheme after the cabinet last year approved an LKR1.46 billion rupee (USD8.2 million) compensation package for voluntary retrenchments. This would reduce the workforce from 7,000 to 5,000, he said. SriLankan airlines reported a LKR36 billion loss (USD186 million) for the year to August 2020 despite having operated repatriation and cargo flights since the country went into COVID-19 lockdown on March 17 last year. Sri Lanka re-opened for limited international arrivals on January 21, 2021, which Pathirage believed would help the airline to recover to 75-80% of pre-crisis levels by the end of 2021. "We think the worst is in the past now and we can look forward to a gradual improvement in aviation, travel, and tourism. The vaccine is great news for all of us ... hopefully, it will release restrictions and people will have the confidence to travel again." Meanwhile, Group Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka confirmed to ch-aviation the airline would soon announce a request for proposals for two Airbus dedicated freighters as per state procurement guidelines. The carrier currently operates one A321-200N, three A330-200s, and six A330-300s for cargo purposes. The airline is seeking to triple or even quadruple its freight volumes over the next two years to reduce reliance on passenger operations, Pathirage added.

**banuthev** · 12-02-2021, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by ULfan79

SriLankan Airlines restructures leases, secures gov't funds

10:10 UTC

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) has renegotiated several aircraft leases saving the airline USD150 million over five years as part of efforts to put the carrier on a stronger financial footing, chairman Ashok Pathirage has said without revealing the lessors or the aircraft affected.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...res-govt-funds

Any update on existing A350 order?

**banuthev** · 12-02-2021, 12:42 PM

SriLankan Airlines Route Network - Effective 21 February 2021

I am surprised Jakarta flights are not in the schedule anymore
There is no sign of SriLankan flights to Moscow yet
I can't see SriLankan flying Colombo>Male>London flights
SriLankan is using weird flight numbers e.g. UL1507 to DMM, UL1263 to RUH, UL1207 to MXP. Haleef AirCeylon - any reason for this?
SriLankan has resumed 3 weekly flights to Delhi. 2 flights on Fridays with first departure 05:30am and next 06:20am. Wondering why UL is using two seperate A321neo instead of one A333?
Any update on resumption of Paris flights?
3 seperate flights flying to Entebbe, Uganda on the 23-Feb-2021. All 3 operated by A330-343. Any reason for this flight

Passenger Flights
Bahrain	1 weekly
Dammam	3 weekly
Delhi	3 weekly
Dhaka	5 weekly
Doha	4 weekly
Dubai	2 weekly
Frankfurt	2 weekly
Guangzhou	1 weekly
Karachi	1 weekly
Kuala Lumpur	1 weekly
Kuwait	2 weekly
Lahore	2 weekly
London	3 weekly
Male'	9 weekly
Melbourne	2 weekly
Milan	2 weekly
Riyadh	2 weekly
Seoul	1 weekly
Shanghai	1 weekly
Singapore	3 weekly
Sydney	2 weekly
Tokyo	2 weekly

Cargo Flights
Chennai	3 weekly
Dubai	2 weekly
Entebbe	3 flights on the 23 Feb
Guangzhou	1 weekly
Ho Chi Minh city	2 weekly
Hong Kong	4 weekly
Karachi	2 weekly
Male'	2 weekly
Mumbai	3 weekly
Singapore	1 weekly

**AirCeylon** · 12-02-2021, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

SriLankan Airlines Route Network - Effective 21 February 2021[LIST][*]I am surprised Jakarta flights are not in the schedule anymore[*]There is no sign of SriLankan flights to Moscow yet[*]I can't see SriLankan flying Colombo>Male>London flights[*]SriLankan is using weird flight numbers e.g. UL1507 to DMM, UL1263 to RUH, UL1207 to MXP. Haleef AirCeylon - any reason for this?[*]SriLankan has resumed 3 weekly flights to Delhi. 2 flights on Fridays with first departure 05:30am and next 06:20am. Wondering why UL is using two seperate A321neo instead of one A333?[*]Any update on resumption of Paris flights?[*]3 seperate flights flying to Entebbe, Uganda on the 23-Feb-2021. All 3 operated by A330-343. Any reason for this flight

UL1207/1208 is special flight not confirmed as a scheduled flight, otherwise for Italy was dedicated UL581/582 UL585/586 and last one circular flight as UL571

**Serendib** · 13-02-2021, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by Aaqib

Not a good idea...they should look to boost frequencies to India

Sri Lanka, India making progress in resuming flights under ‘air bubble’

**banuthev** · 13-02-2021, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by Serendib

Sri Lanka, India making progress in resuming flights under ‘air bubble’

Flight Reservation is already open for Vistara and Goair flights to Colombo. Both of these airlines are flying Colombo from 1 or 2 March 2021.

STD	TO	FLT	AFT	MO	TU	WE	TH	FR	SA	SU	AIRLINE
08:00	MUMBAI	UK0132	A320	MO	TU		TH	FR	SA	SU	AIR VISTARA
15:00	BENGALURU	G80048	A320	MO	TU		TH	FR	SA	SU	GOAIR
15:10	DELHI	G80040	A320	MO	TU		TH	FR	SA	SU	GOAIR
15:15	DELHI	UK0138	A320	MO	TU		TH	FR	SA	SU	AIR VISTARA

**Aaqib** · 13-02-2021, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by banuthev

Flight Reservation is already open for Vistara and Goair flights to Colombo. Both of these airlines are flying Colombo from 1 or 2 March 2021. [TABLE="width: 847"]

Would be great to see Vistara back!

Any idea when UL would resume services to India

**banuthev** · 13-02-2021, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

FitsAir to lease 2 A320s

According to CH-Aviation, FitsAir from Sri Lanka is planning to add two leased A320s, which are expected to arrive around March. One will be deployed as a make-shift freighter, while the other one will carry passengers.

i heard from reliable source, first A320 for Fitsair going to join the fleet end of February and the second A320 in March on dry lease. But MSN numbers are unknown.

Hi Chris, Do you have updates on MSN numbers for these Sri Lanka's Fitsair A320s?

**Skyliner** · 15-02-2021, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by banuthev

i heard from reliable source, first A320 for Fitsair going to join the fleet end of February and the second A320 in March on dry lease. But MSN numbers are unknown.

Hi Chris, Do you have updates on MSN numbers for these Sri Lanka's Fitsair A320s?

Sorry, nothing known so far and currently a choice of few hundreds - so we must be patient - Kind regards Chris

**banuthev** · 15-02-2021, 08:51 AM

Hi Shehan,

I saw this poster on your Aviation Flash Facebook page. It's good to know UL is going to fly Moscow. Do you know the starting date ? how many weekly flights ?
I wonder if it's going to be nonstop flight between CMB and MOW ?

Attached Files

149241039_3612051125569993_4548636403647511112_o.jpg (80.8 KB, 48 views)

**banuthev** · 16-02-2021, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by ULfan79

SriLankan Airlines restructures leases, secures gov't funds

10:10 UTC

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) has renegotiated several aircraft leases saving the airline USD150 million over five years as part of efforts to put the carrier on a stronger financial footing, chairman Ashok Pathirage has said without revealing the lessors or the aircraft affected.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...res-govt-funds

Currently aircraft fleet at UL is not fully operational. I wonder why UL shouldn't sublease the aircraft to Fitsair, Fly Lankan Asia and Spark Air. Isn't that better for UL instead of grounding aircraft? May be Fitsair and Startup airlines can negotiate for lease with lower rate. But may be in the current market there are plenty of aircraft available in the much cheaper leases. But I am thinking from UL point of view and saving the national airline.

Please share your opinion about this.

Sri Lanka Aviation

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