Sri Lanka Aviation
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Yes UL ordered 8 A359s. First 3 ordered on lease from Aercap and one ordered on lease from ALC were cancelled back in 2017 by paying penalty $105 mn.
I believe the remaining four airframes directly ordered from Airbus are still not been built, order-converted or cancelled till now. Please some one correct me if I am wrong.Comment
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maybe the orders are on hold(I think that's possible) because
Yes UL ordered 8 A359s. First 3 ordered on lease from Aercap and one ordered on lease from ALC were cancelled back in 2017 by paying penalty $105 mn.
I believe the remaining four airframes directly ordered from Airbus are still not been built, order-converted or cancelled till now. Please some one correct me if I am wrong.
a) UL might (not) have sufficient funds to buy the jets outright
b) CMB and UL personnel are not yet undergone certification on the type
correct if wrong though~spotting Y-12s and helicopters from my home..Comment
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By reading the below statement from UL CEO, I feel we won't be able to see A350 or A339s in the fleet until end of the year 2030. Hence why UL may planned for A333/2s to be wetleased for 6/8 years as temp solution.
Like A333s orders back in 2013/2014, UL may do sale and lease back the aircraft that were ordered directly from Airbus.
Is it good idea UL renegotiating with the lessor for the lease agreement to be extended of the current 7 x A333s until 2030 to ease the pressure?
But he cautioned that the leasing space was intensely competitive and that the target fleet number may not be reached. Nuttall also highlighted that longer-term, SriLankan would need to start thinking about replacing its A330 fleet.
"Depending on where we get the financing, we may go back out to market and try and work out what the long-term fleet is and start morphing into that," he said. "But in the short term, it's all about leasing and what's available."
SriLankan Airlines is presently an all-Airbus operator with a fleet of seven A320-200s, two A320-200Ns, four A321-200Ns, two A330-200s, and seven A330-300s.
"You're not going to be wanting to fly A330s when you get to the end of the 2030s," Nuttall said. "So what's the new aircraft? Is it the A330-900N? Is it the A350? Is it the B787? That's when you really start talking to Airbus and Boeing, and the opportunity then is there for Boeing to say, well you can transition the whole fleet with our really good deal."
The Sri Lankan government has proposed handing LKR20 billion rupees (USD67.5 million) to SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) to repay loans and make...
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SriLankan Airlines to increase its fleet to 51 aircraft by 2030: Deputy Minister. "The national carrier is looking towards obtaining six propeller aircraft for domestic and for short haul International routes," the Deputy Minister said.SriLankan Airlines to increase its fleet to 51 aircraft by 2030: Deputy Minister
Colombo, Feb 25 (Daily Mirror) - SriLankan Airlines is slated to increase its fleet to 51 aircraft from the current level of 22, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament today.
"The national carrier is looking towards obtaining six propeller aircraft for domestic and for short haul International routes," the Deputy Minister said.
The airline hopes to increase its revenue up to US dollars 2,013 million in the financial year 2029/30. It has earned a revune of US dollars 876 million during the financial year 2024/25 according to the Deputy Minister.
SriLankan Airlines to increase its fleet to 51 aircraft by 2030: Deputy Minister - Breaking News | Daily Mirror
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on the way to see UL having ATRs?spotting Y-12s and helicopters from my home..Comment
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I think UL might need to keep the fleet of A332/A333 until both UL and CMB are ready to accept either the A339 or the A359 and have them delivered.
By reading the below statement from UL CEO, I feel we won't be able to see A350 or A339s in the fleet until end of the year 2030. Hence why UL may planned for A333/2s to be wetleased for 6/8 years as temp solution.
Like A333s orders back in 2013/2014, UL may do sale and lease back the aircraft that were ordered directly from Airbus.
Is it good idea UL renegotiating with the lessor for the lease agreement to be extended of the current 7 x A333s until 2030 to ease the pressure?
sale and lease-back would be a good option.
What would replace UL's A332 though?spotting Y-12s and helicopters from my home..Comment
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UL will probably replace their A332s with the A339s or A338s (when they get financially stable), and UL will replace their current A333s with A359s or A339s, atleast, that's what I hope to see happen.
The A338 is a no go for UL, it has less capacity but has the same range as the A359s, however, if UL does decide to pick up the A338, it would be more easier to integrate it into the fleet if they have the A339, which means that UL will probably go for the A338 anyway. But there's a chance they might not do so and instead go with the A359.
Sien (KR/SL/US)
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According to my opinion, not a good thing to operate Turbo Props within the Island for domestic flights which has currently no demand for that, but also not good to operate them for international flights within short-haul Indian sector since UL's business model is different, as we say, Legacy Star Class International Carrier.Comment
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Agree, but small addition,
UL will probably replace their A332s with the A339s or A338s (when they get financially stable), and UL will replace their current A333s with A359s or A339s, atleast, that's what I hope to see happen.
The A338 is a no go for UL, it has less capacity but has the same range as the A359s, however, if UL does decide to pick up the A338, it would be more easier to integrate it into the fleet if they have the A339, which means that UL will probably go for the A338 anyway. But there's a chance they might not do so and instead go with the A359.
Its better to go with some used A333s or A332s (at least 5 jets) and extending the lease period of existing A333s until 2029, 2030 for now and then negotiate with Airbus for fleet renewal, Purchasing and selling back to Lessors and leasing back for 12 years is a good option.
Better option is to go with A359s (at least 8-10 jets, with 1-2-1 business class with premium economy with 3-3-3 economy or only 2-4-2 economy like ANA 787s), which will make UL strong and access new destinations such as AKL, New Zealand, and USA (with the aim of targeting Indian market).
Best option for the current financial condition is going with A339s (8-10 jets) which is easy to induct, lower capital cost for maintenance, crew training. But better to not to go with A338s because of of thin Profit margin per flight, Less Pax, more range, same applies for B788, (Need to carry the entire aircraft gross weight with less pax, for a longer range which needs much fuel and ticket prices will be higher than competitors, if the ticket pricing is same as SG, MH, profit margin will be thin.)
ThanksComment
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Don't you think 51 aircraft too much for UL?Gov't minister plots big fleet boost for SriLankan Airlines
© Tis Meyer / planepics.org. By Andrew Curran28Feb2025
Sri Lanka's deputy minister of finance and planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, says state-owned SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) will embark on five-year plan this year with the goal, among others, of growing to 52 aircraft and doubling revenues from the current sub-USD1 billion mark to more than USD2 billion.
Speaking in Sri Lanka's parliament on February 25, Suriyapperuma said the airline's management were under instructions to make the carrier a self-sustaining entity. While the government will assist with legacy debt and interest payments, it will be less forthcoming about covering day-to-day operational shortfalls.
SriLankan Airlines is currently seeking six propeller aircraft, the minister said and, per the new plan, will increase its fleet from the current 22 aircraft to 52 by 2030. ch-aviation understands there is no firm pathway on achieving this number. However, the carrier is working on various options. The airline also has a "view on the (propeller) aircraft type," but it needs finalising.
Suriyapperuma was also critical of historical decisions to pay above-market lease rates and cited an example of SriLankan paying USD900,000 per month for three aircraft that have sat on the ground "for several years." It is unclear which specific aircraft he was referring to.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that two A321-200Ns, 4R-AND (msn 7697) and 4R-ANE (msn 7891), have been grounded for around a year, but not several. ch-aviation is advised that no one aircraft has been on the ground continuously for three years. Instead, SriLankan Airlines had three narrowbody Airbus neos interchangeably on the ground for extended periods due to CFM International LEAP engine issues. That is now down to two aircraft. "It has not always been the same aircraft," ch-aviation was told, but the minister was "close enough."
The minister says he wants the five-year plan to chart SriLankan's pathway to growth, profitability, and self-sufficiency. He was critical of past borrowing decisions and said discussions were underway with stakeholders to restructure some USD-denominated debts.
Gov't minister plots big fleet boost for SriLankan Airlines - ch-aviation
That means have to add around 30 odd aircraft. Is it possible to do with the present situation?Last edited by skyline; 28-02-2025, 02:54 AM.Comment
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Agree, but small addition,
Its better to go with some used A333s or A332s (at least 5 jets) and extending the lease period of existing A333s until 2029, 2030 for now and then negotiate with Airbus for fleet renewal, Purchasing and selling back to Lessors and leasing back for 12 years is a good option.
Better option is to go with A359s (at least 8-10 jets, with 1-2-1 business class with premium economy with 3-3-3 economy or only 2-4-2 economy like ANA 787s), which will make UL strong and access new destinations such as AKL, New Zealand, and USA (with the aim of targeting Indian market).
Best option for the current financial condition is going with A339s (8-10 jets) which is easy to induct, lower capital cost for maintenance, crew training. But better to not to go with A338s because of of thin Profit margin per flight, Less Pax, more range, same applies for B788, (Need to carry the entire aircraft gross weight with less pax, for a longer range which needs much fuel and ticket prices will be higher than competitors, if the ticket pricing is same as SG, MH, profit margin will be thin.)
Thanks
getting either an A339 or a A359 isnt going to be easy though. both have somewhat big backlogs.
UL could lease[short term] some to(at least) get an experience on the operations of those 2 aircraft.
correct me if I'm wrong though,spotting Y-12s and helicopters from my home..Comment
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Airbus still shows four A350-900s for UL in their order book. If UL has the resources to firm up the orders, Airbus may be able to find production slots for these four aircraft.Comment
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