Sri Lanka Aviation

Poland-based Enter Air began its flights to Sri Lanka in November 2023.

Ukrainian charter and low-cost airline, SkyUp Airlines, will commence its first direct flight from Warsaw to Sri Lanka’s Mattala airport on Dec. 18, and for the first time, its second and third inaugural flights from southern Polish cities of Katowice and Rzeszów on Dec. 22 and Dec. 25, respectively, and continue until April 16, 2024.

Air India Express is set to expand international operations to Southeast Asia and other regional destinations. We may also explore possibilities for destinations like Sri Lanka.”


Air Arabia has announced the opening of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Colombo. New route will be in operation starting this Friday, December 08, 2023. Flights will be operated every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday between Abu Dhabi and Colombo.

​Air Astana launched four direct charter flights weekly between Kazakhstan and Colombo on the 06 Dec 2023. Inaugural flight landed at Colombo at 12.50 hrs today with 165 international tourists. The flights will operate till April 2024.​

Thank you for the update. Appreciated, can you please let me know when the british Airways, and virgin Atlantic start flying to Colombo please ?

is that 3 A320s grounded at the moment?

Any reasons?

Sri Lanka delays approval for at least one Russian charter flight seeking to operate, starting from this December, which could result in a potential US $ 90 million loss to the economy. “This is an Irish aircraft, which has been leased by the Russian government. So, our government has not yet cleared them to operate in Sri Lanka,” he said.
As a result of the sanctions imposed on Russia, the Western companies are taking steps to repossess the aircraft leased to Russian carriers.
​https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...hts/273-273048

4R-ABN is also under maintenance.

​I am curious which Russian Airline is seeking to operate Colombo from this December?

Already Aeroflot, Azur Air and Redwings Airlines are flying to Sri Lanka. Rossiya Airlines will take over SVO-CMB ops from Aeroflot end of this month and Rossiya Airlines have all B777 registered under Russsia.

All aircraft are in FitsAir livery for sometime now. None of them are in all white cs.

any idea whats up with 17th Dec UL564 CDG/CMB? I noticed at first it had a 4hr delay in dep despite arriving into CDG right on time. then later it seems it never took off as per fr24

4R-ABN, 4R-ABO, 4R-ABL , 4R-ALH are inactive
4R-ANE - inactive since 15th Dec

any idea when 4R-ANB, 4R-ANC, 4R-ANF will be operational ?

Which aircraft-reg operate this UL564 flight?

Any reason why 8 aircraft are grounded ?

exq?

ul564 - 4r-alp (a333)

What happened to 4R-ALP

​since 17th?

SriLankan Airlines: Nine Planes Down, Hundreds of Technicians Gone

COLOMBO (News 1st); National carrier SriLankan Airlines continues to navigate a challenging landscape, with multiple grounded aircraft and a significant shortage of technical personnel adding to existing financial difficulties.

On December 17th, an A330 aircraft bearing the flight number UL 563 departing from Katunayake to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris experienced a technical fault, reportedly related to damage to the brakes and axle.

The aircraft remains grounded at Charles de Gaulle with a scheduled return to Sri Lanka on December 18th.

This incident marks the ninth aircraft currently sidelined from SriLankan Airlines operations.

Five of these remain grounded due to lacking essential equipment, while two undergo maintenance. Airline sources indicate a lack of manpower further hampers maintenance efforts, delaying the return of these aircraft to service.

Engineer and technician shortages have been an ongoing concern for SriLankan Airlines. Since January 2022, the company has lost 138 experienced technicians through resignations, promotions, and retirements. The attractive aviation market coupled with the country's economic situation has reportedly motivated many to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Currently, SriLankan Airlines operates with approximately 380 flight technicians against a required 475, with the number of experienced technicians further limited to around 280. The company's licensed aircraft engineers also face similar pressures, with 40 of their 160 members recently leaving the country.

​https://www.newsfirst.lk/2023/12/20/...chnicians-gone