Sri Lanka Aviation

**banuthev** · 14-05-2025, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by tangopapa380

"two narrow-bodies by Apr '25 to Jun '25." Its already Mid-May and this doesnt seem to be the case.

UL have 22 aircraft in the current fleet not sure why the above news says 20 aircraft. Are the two A320s going to leave the fleet very soon ? probably ABL and MRE?

Any details of MSN of upcoming two A320s? and two other A330s going to join between Nov25 and Mar26? We already know A332 (MSN 1261) is going to join between Jul25 and Oct25.

**banuthev** · 14-05-2025, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by Haleef

Thanks for all the photos and effort to go to CHR to see the new 332. Great to see the past and future birds of UL together in one frame.
Hoping to see test flight photos on this forum soon.

hugotissier - Hope you're doing well ! I heard there is a test flight planned this Friday probably with reg VP-BNX. There is an audit going to happen on MSN 1261 when further UL team visit the aircraft on 18-May. May be test flight planned with 4R registration after 20-May. If you get chance please get us photos of test flights.

**banuthev** · 14-05-2025, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by WizzWaveSien

Excellent pictures banuthev! Any updates on seat configurations?
Also, do you know what routes this aircraft might serve? Thinking that it might serve FRA and CDG, thoughts?

Thanks WizzWaveSien and rest of the Lanka Aviator Team. It's my pleasure.

Guys any idea what seat config MSN 1261 would have with UL?

**Aaqib** · 15-05-2025, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Serendib

SriLankan eyes five new aircraft including two narrow-bodies by 2026

14 May 2025 - 438

Fleet expansion plan contradicts with proposed five-year business plan
To resume flights to Beijing and Shanghai from July and November

The above plans contradict with the proposed five-year business plan which includes eliminating 15 unprofitable Indian routes, which reportedly incur annual losses of US$ 24 million. Further, it also contradicts with the proposal to transition from narrow-body to wide-body aircraft to optimise operations.

“This will allow Indian passengers convenient dual-destination holidays, combining Sri Lanka or the Maldives with Southeast Asia, something no other carrier currently offers at such scale and convenience,” he said

Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka Latest Breaking News and Headlines - Print Edition SriLankan eyes five new aircraft including two narrow-bodies by 2026

Would anyone be able to shed light light on to what the "15 unprofitable Indian routes" are?
Also by eliminating 15 routes may reduce Indian transit pax. to and from other sectors

**Serendib** · 15-05-2025, 08:00 AM

is this true?

Emirates has expressed its openness to increasing direct flight operations between Sri Lanka and various parts of India while emphasising that the respective governments of India and Sri Lanka need to grant the necessary permissions.

Emirates Senior Vice President West Asia and Indian Ocean Essa Sulaiman Ahamed shared these remarks with Mirror Business at Bandaranaike International Airport this week.

He clarified that it is up to the governments in India and Sri Lanka to liberalise direct flight operations for third-party carriers such as Emirates.

“That’s between the two governments,” he stated.

Speaking to Mirror Business, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Sri Lanka Chairman Sunil Jayarathne indicated the CAA’s support for allowing Emirates to operate direct flights between India and Sri Lanka, noting that the decision ultimately rests with the Indian authorities.

The proposed five-year business plan for the loss-making national carrier SriLankan Airlines includes the elimination of unprofitable routes, notably its 15 Indian routes, which reportedly cost US $ 24 million annually. This strategic move is projected to save US $ 400 million in direct operating costs and US $ 30 million in ancillary expenses per year. If this proposal proceeds, Sri Lanka may need to encourage airlines like Emirates to fill the resulting gap in connectivity.

Granting the Fifth Freedom of the Air between the two countries could increase competition, provide more travel options for consumers and potentially boost tourism, investments and trade between Sri Lanka and India. The reluctance to grant such rights often stems from the desire of national carriers to protect their market share.

Emirates eyes India-SL route - Breaking News | Daily Mirror

**banuthev** · 15-05-2025, 09:23 AM

Originally posted by Aaqib

Would anyone be able to shed light light on to what the "15 unprofitable Indian routes" are?
Also by eliminating 15 routes may reduce Indian transit pax. to and from other sectors

Please find the list of UL's current destinations in India. I strongly disagree UL should eliminate the Indian destinations instead UL and 8D together better expand the number of flights to India.

Direct Destinations
01. Delhi
02. Mumbai
03. Chennai
04. Trivandrum
05. Trichy
06. Bengaluru
07. Hyderabad
08. Kochi
09. Madurai

Codeshare
10. Amristsar
11. Lucknow
12. Varanasi
13. Patna
14. Ahmedabad
15. Guwahati

**n863gt** · 15-05-2025, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

UL have 22 aircraft in the current fleet not sure why the above news says 20 aircraft. Are the two A320s going to leave the fleet very soon ? probably ABL and MRE?

Any details of MSN of upcoming two A320s? and two other A330s going to join between Nov25 and Mar26? We already know A332 (MSN 1261) is going to join between Jul25 and Oct25.

that's just the lack-of-research nature of news writing nowadays. or they just rounded it off to a closest 10.

**banuthev** · 17-05-2025, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by Farhan Hussain

17415153379342383454013842251774.jpg
It seems it got re-registered back to VP-CRQ

VP-CRQ/MSN 1060 (EX- 4R-ALT) did a test flight for 4hrs on the 25-Apr-2025. BYJ to BYJ.

**VC10fan** · 17-05-2025, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by n863gt

now UL could maybe launch CMB-(russia) to serve that market.
why is SU terminating SVO-CMB in the first place?

SU is likely terminating as the tourist season is over, and there are plenty of options via DXB/AUH/DOH.

When UL dropped MOW, I heard that it was not because of demand, but due to sanctions against Russia applying on leases, insurance etc.

**banuthev** · 19-05-2025, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by VC10fan

SU is likely terminating as the tourist season is over, and there are plenty of options via DXB/AUH/DOH.

When UL dropped MOW, I heard that it was not because of demand, but due to sanctions against Russia applying on leases, insurance etc.

SU operated year-round flight to CMB. I wonder why SU is terminating summer flights to CMB this time?

Airlines such as Q2, B9 among the ones terminated CMB in the last few months.

**Randula** · 19-05-2025, 04:36 PM

Any plans that UL gonna purchase/ lease 339s ? (Maybe ex air Belgium ones)

**banuthev** · 19-05-2025, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by Randula

Any plans that UL gonna purchase/ lease 339s ? (Maybe ex air Belgium ones)

Recently I heard UL is in discussion with Airbus and lessor Aercap for two A339s. Does any body know more on this and what Randula mentioned above ?

**Serendib** · 19-05-2025, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by Randula

Any plans that UL gonna purchase/ lease 339s ? (Maybe ex air Belgium ones)

Could it possibly be below ex Air Belgium A330Neos?

Airbus A330-941N - MSN 1844 OO-ABF. 6.2 YRS

Airbus A330-941N - MSN 1861 OO-ABG. 3.8 YRS

**MAW2000** · 20-05-2025, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by Serendib

Could it possibly be below ex Air Belgium A330Neos?

Airbus A330-941N - MSN 1844 OO-ABF. 6.2 YRS

Airbus A330-941N - MSN 1861 OO-ABG. 3.8 YRS

Yes, Seems like , its possible,
Both Aircrafts, MSN 1844, 1861 were supposed to be join with Azul, Brazil, but according to the planespotters.net https://www.planespotters.net/airfra...belgium/r6km8k
but not taken by Azul, remains with the lessor.

**Serendib** · 20-05-2025, 07:42 AM

easa part 21j approved design organisation wesky has completed the installation of the company’s advanced 60w usb-c in-seat power system, rechargetm, on srilankan airlines’ airbus a330-200 business class cabin.

Wesky says this marks another successful deployment of the solution which the company says is the lightest on the market. Easa form 1 certified and designed with efficiency and simplicity in mind, the system features a compact two-component architecture, seat power box (spb) and smart outlet unit (sou), and delivers 60w usb-c power delivery (pd) and programmable power supply (pps) charging protocols, all at just 110 grams per passenger.

“we’re proud to support srilankan airlines with our technology,” said vytis petrusevicius, founder and ceo of wesky. “bringing a new product onto a widebody platform requires months of engineering and certification effort. Seeing rechargetm now flying on the a330 is a major milestone for wesky.”

wesky’s systems are tailored for modern commercial aircraft cabin environments and meet the latest airline and passenger requirements.

wesky installs 60w usb-c in-seat power system on srilankan airlines' a330-200 aircraft

4r-alh?

Sri Lanka Aviation

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