Sri Lanka Aviation

**banuthev** · 31-07-2025, 06:39 PM

Originally posted by n863gt

MH A333 and not A339?

MH website say A333 operating along with B737 in Aug25 and Equipment varies showing in Sep25. So MH may surprise us by sending A339 to CMB in Sep25. Have to wait and see.

**banuthev** · 01-08-2025, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by n863gt

transponder was ON yesterday.

Any updates on MRE returning to service?

**channa** · 01-08-2025, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Any updates on MRE returning to service?

4R-MRE is in service now

**banuthev** · 02-08-2025, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by Serendib

Batik Air to fly Colombo from 11 Dec 2025

Thanks for the update! ?

That is Batik Air Malaysia going to fly KUL-CMB service with 4 weekly. Schedule are below.

Mo.Tu.Th.Sa - OD297 - KUL 00:05 - CMB 01:05 - B737
Mo.Tu.Th.Sa - OD298 - CMB 02:05 - KUL 08:25 - B737

Good to see KUL-CMB route is getting popular with increased flights. In Dec25 below airlines are operating between KUL and CMB.

UL - 14 weekly
AK - 14 weekly
MH - 7 weekly
8D - 4 weekly
+
OD - 4 weekly

If I remember correctly Batik Air served CMB in the past. Can anyone confirm

Gulf Air is going to increase BAH-MLE-CMB flights from Daily to 9 weekly from 19-Feb-2026 to 19-Mar-2026. Additional flights are operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

**banuthev** · 02-08-2025, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by channa

4R-MRE is in service now

Thought MRE ending the lease with UL in 2026. Very surprising it's back in service. I suspect lease have been extended with lessor?

**n863gt** · 02-08-2025, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

MH website say A333 operating along with B737 in Aug25 and Equipment varies showing in Sep25. So MH may surprise us by sending A339 to CMB in Sep25. Have to wait and see.

so potential first A339 operator to CMB? (I dont know whether A339s landed there.)

**WizzWaveSien** · 02-08-2025, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Thanks for the update! ?

That is Batik Air Malaysia going to fly KUL-CMB service with 4 weekly. Schedule are below.

Mo.Tu.Th.Sa - OD297 - KUL 00:05 - CMB 01:05 - B737
Mo.Tu.Th.Sa - OD298 - CMB 02:05 - KUL 08:25 - B737

Good to see KUL-CMB route is getting popular with increased flights. In Dec25 below airlines are operating between KUL and CMB.

UL - 14 weekly
AK - 14 weekly
MH - 7 weekly
8D - 4 weekly
+
OD - 4 weekly

If I remember correctly Batik Air served CMB in the past. Can anyone confirm

Gulf Air is going to increase BAH-MLE-CMB flights from Daily to 9 weekly from 19-Feb-2026 to 19-Mar-2026. Additional flights are operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Yes, Batik Air served Colombo during 2023 and ended flights in Q1 of 2024, glad to see it back! expected to be operated with 737-800s. Also, wish that Gulf Air began direct flights to CMB rather than the stop at MLE, but glad to see the flight route getting popular as indicated by the increase in flights by both BAH and KUL.

Seems like Malaysian carriers are compenstating the end of flights from 3K, heard that Wizz Air Abu Dhabi also shutting down from September 1st, I have a slight urge that because of this, more airlines (especially gulf carriers) will be increasing flights to CMB and other destinations because of this. Thoughts on this guys?

**banuthev** · 03-08-2025, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by 88gee

yes, Info is correct, but I doubt about Bhutan airlines. because I don't think anybody will travel to Bhutan from Sri Lanka with a heavy visa fee ( USD 200 per day) yes the amount is correct while India, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh citizens doesn't need visa to travel to Bhutan.

Originally posted by VC10fan

Akasa fairly certain to come, they have appointed a GSA and are expanding internationally.
Vietnam also likely as there is a good market between LK and VN
Bhutan highly unlikely, very small market in both directions

I wonder which Indian destinations will be connected with CMB by Akasa if they launch CMB.

I see Vietnam is well connected with South India. I am very surprised why still none of the Vietnam carriers haven't served CMB yet.

**banuthev** · 03-08-2025, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by n863gt

so potential first A339 operator to CMB? (I dont know whether A339s landed there.)

Hi Haleef, Am I correct thinking Hifly already operated A339 to CMB back in 2020?

**Haleef** · 03-08-2025, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by banuthev

Hi Haleef, Am I correct thinking Hifly already operated A339 to CMB back in 2020?

Hi Banu, yes it did during late September 2020. CS-TKY. Have a picture of it parked at Colombo.
Attached below, taken by my father after a flight.

Attached Files

120072214_2793216047581329_485416375760793211_n.jpg (46.1 KB, 118 views)

**channa** · 03-08-2025, 07:49 PM

Srilankan Airlines should consider start flying to Amsterdam after getting next 2 Air Bus 330s. In July 2025, there were 15,556 tourists to Srilanka from Netherlands. More than from France and China. Not only that it is a good transit airport for passengers from USA and Canada

**banuthev** · 04-08-2025, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by channa

Srilankan Airlines should consider start flying to Amsterdam after getting next 2 Air Bus 330s. In July 2025, there were 15,556 tourists to Srilanka from Netherlands. More than from France and China. Not only that it is a good transit airport for passengers from USA and Canada

Heard there is a rumour AF is going to resume direct flights to CMB in 2025. Does any body confirm this and give us more details?

**banuthev** · 04-08-2025, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by WizzWaveSien

Yes, Batik Air served Colombo during 2023 and ended flights in Q1 of 2024, glad to see it back! expected to be operated with 737-800s. Also, wish that Gulf Air began direct flights to CMB rather than the stop at MLE, but glad to see the flight route getting popular as indicated by the increase in flights by both BAH and KUL.

Seems like Malaysian carriers are compenstating the end of flights from 3K, heard that Wizz Air Abu Dhabi also shutting down from September 1st, I have a slight urge that because of this, more airlines (especially gulf carriers) will be increasing flights to CMB and other destinations because of this. Thoughts on this guys?

Air China is going to operate daily flights on CTU-CMB route in W25.

**banuthev** · 04-08-2025, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by 88gee

yes, Info is correct, but I doubt about Bhutan airlines. because I don't think anybody will travel to Bhutan from Sri Lanka with a heavy visa fee ( USD 200 per day) yes the amount is correct while India, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh citizens doesn't need visa to travel to Bhutan.

Druk Air is going to connect Paro and Colombo in December 2025. Route : PRH>IXB>CMB>PRH. Is this first ever direct flight between Bhutan and Sri Lanka? Can any one confirm if its a charter or schedule flight?

IMG-20250803-WA0003.jpg

**A359** · 04-08-2025, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by channa

Srilankan Airlines should consider start flying to Amsterdam after getting next 2 Air Bus 330s. In July 2025, there were 15,556 tourists to Srilanka from Netherlands. More than from France and China. Not only that it is a good transit airport for passengers from USA and Canada

AMS would be a great addition to UL's network and would give travelers lots of options to North America if UL could offer onward connections on Delta and KLM. However flights to AMS seem unlikely, since the airport is reducing the number of slots available to carriers?

Sri Lanka Aviation

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