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."

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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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​