Sri Lanka Aviation

https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2026/0...ed-next-month/



Looks like this is going to be a cargo airline that will be operating out of Colombo from May 2026, this looks promising, will hopefully help capture some market share from Afcom Cargo and other cargo carriers in the region. Will be operating a boeing 737-800 freighter, which will be the first Boeing aircraft operated by a Sri Lankan Airline in a while. I hope this takes off.

HM is continuing to operate twice weekly, not once.

There were a couple of cancellations but the schedule is twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays.

Looks like another failure... So many flights appeared last few years... None really flew.

Slot Approvals.

Hi All,
Fits Air 8D/EXV will not acquire 4th aircraft, instead they will return back the 3rd aircraft (Probably 4R-EXQ, Aircraft is AOG UFN) and will proceed with 2 aircraft operations as of now for Winter 26/27.

As per some info, 4R-ANE is getting engines, 4R-ANE will fly soon.

Colombo Airport Schedule Flight Information - April 2026 Week 4

• Air Arabia is reducing AUH-CMB flights from 5 weekly to 4 weekly;
• Fitsair is reducing CMB-DAC flights from 7 weekly to 5 weekly;
• Fitsair is reducing CMB-DXB flights from 6 weekly to 4 weekly;
• Fitsair launched CMB-LHE flights with 1 weekly;
• Fitsair is reducing CMB-MLE flights from 14 weekly to 8 weekly;
• Air Asia is reducing KUL-CMB flights from 14 weekly to 7 weekly;
• Air China is reducing TFU-CMB from 7 weekly to 6 weekly;
• Emirates is increasing DXB-CMB flgihts from 19 weekly to 20 weekly;
• Emirates is resuming DXB-MLE-CMB flights with 2 weekly;
• Etihad Airways AUH-CMB flights 20 weekly to 22 weekly;
• Flydubai is increasing DXB-CMB flights from 13 to 14 weekly;
• Flydubai is increasing DXB-MLE-CMB flights from 3 to 4 weekly;
• Air Arabia is increasing SHJ-CMB flights 7 weekly to 11 weekly;
• Gulf Air is planning to resume BAH-MLE-CMB flights with 7 weekly;
• Jazzeera Airways is increasing DMM-CMB flights 2 weekly to 10 weekly;
• Kuwait Airways is planning to resume KWI-CMB flights with 4 weekly. Will be operated by A32N and B77W;
• Malaysia Airlines is reducing KUL-CMB flights from 8 weekly to 7 weekly;
• Qatar Airways is increasing DOH-CMB flights from 20 weekly 23 weekly;
• Singapore Airlines is increasing SIN-CMB flights from 10 weekly to 12 weekly; Day time flights are operated by A359.
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-BKK flights from 14 weekly to 9 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-BLR flights from 10 weekly to 8 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-BOM flights from 14 weekly to 13 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is resuming CMB-CDG-FRA-CMB flights with 3 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-CGK flights from 7 weekly to 3 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-COK flights from 7 weekly to 6 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-DAC flights from 7 weekly to 5 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is resuming CMB-DMM flights with 5 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is resuming CMB-DOH flights with 2 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is increasing CMB-DXB flights from 5 weekly to 6 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-IXM flights from 5 weekly to 4 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-KUL flights from 13 weekly to 9 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is resuming CMB-KWI flights with 2 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-MAA flights from 19 weekly to 16 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-RUH flights from 7 weekly to 5 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-SIN flights from 11 weekly to 10 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-TRV flights from 4 weekly to 2 weekly
• SriLankan Airlines is reducing CMB-TRZ flights from 7 weekly to 6 weekly

​

A/L	DEST	VIA	FLTS PER WEEK IN APR26 WK1	FLTS PER WEEK IN APR26 WK4	FREQ VARIATION
3L	AUH	---	5	4	-1
6E	BLR	---	13	13	0
6E	BOM	---	7	7	0
6E	DEL	---	6	6	0
6E	HYD	---	6	6	0
6E	MAA	---	27	27	0
8D	DAC	---	7	5	-2
8D	DXB	---	6	4	-2
8D	KUL	---	4	4	0
8D	LHE	---	0	1	1
8D	MLE	---	14	8	-6
AI	BOM	---	7	7	0
AI	DEL	---	14	14	0
AK	KUL	---	14	7	-7
CA	TFU	---	7	6	-1
CX	HKG	---	7	7	0
EK	DXB	---	19	20	1
EK	DXB	MLE	0	2	2
EY	AUH	---	20	22	2
FD	DMK	---	7	7	0
FZ	DXB	---	13	14	1
FZ	DXB	MLE	3	4	1
G9	SHJ	---	7	11	4
GF	BAH	MLE	0	7	7
HM	SEZ	---	2	2	0
J9	DMM	---	2	10	8
KU	KWI	---	0	4	4
MH	KUL	---	8	7	-1
MU	KMG	---	4	4	0
MU	PVG	---	7	7	0
OD	KUL	---	3	3	0
OQ	CKG	---	3	3	0
OQ	MLE	---	3	3	0
OV	MCT	---	4	4	0
QR	DOH	---	20	23	3
SQ	SIN	---	10	12	2
SU	SVO	---	4	4	0
TG	BKK	---	7	7	0
TK	IST	---	9	9	0
UL	BKK	---	14	9	-5
UL	BLR	---	10	8	-2
UL	BOM	---	14	13	-1
UL	CAN	---	4	4	0
UL	CDG	---	3	0	-3
UL	CGK	---	7	3	-4
UL	COK	---	7	6	-1
UL	DAC	---	7	5	-2
UL	DEL	---	14	14	0
UL	DMM	---	0	5	5
UL	DOH	---	0	2	2
UL	DXB	---	5	6	1
UL	FRA	---	3	0	-3
UL	FRA	CDG	0	3	3
UL	GAN	---	2	2	0
UL	HYD	---	4	4	0
UL	ICN	---	2	2	0
UL	IXM	---	5	4	-1
UL	KHI	---	4	4	0
UL	KTM	---	4	4	0
UL	KUL	---	13	9	-4
UL	KWI	---	0	2	2
UL	LHE	---	4	4	0
UL	LHR	---	7	7	0
UL	MAA	---	19	16	-3
UL	MEL	---	7	7	0
UL	MLE	---	21	21	0
UL	NRT	---	4	4	0
UL	RUH	---	7	5	-2
UL	SIN	---	11	10	-1
UL	SYD	---	4	4	0
UL	TRV	---	4	2	-2
UL	TRZ	---	7	6	-1
WK	ZRH	---	2	2	0

Hi, I'm sorry for the late posting, but last Sunday (19), while I was plane spotting near Katunayaka, I observed 4R-ANB departed for KTM but diverted back to CMB. Does anyone know a reason?

All I'd say is,
finally! (sigh)

Peter Hill to return to SriLankan Airlines as next Chairman this week?

SriLankan Airlines is bracing for a highly contentious leadership overhaul at its upcoming board meeting scheduled for this Saturday, April 25. Mirror Business learnt from reliable sources that aviation veteran Peter Hill, aged 83, is anticipated to be appointed as Chairman, marking a dramatic return to the national carrier. He is expected to lead the critical weekend session. Concurrently, sources indicate that Dimuthu Tennakoon, the current Head of Commercial, is being positioned for an immediate appointment as acting Chief Executive Officer this Saturday. This proposed dual appointment has sparked intense industry backlash, pairing an aging executive with a commercial chief currently shadowed by severe allegations of large-scale corporate corruption. Hill’s anticipated return to the national carrier is heavily laden with historical baggage and political undertones. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines from 1998 to 2008, during the Emirates management era. His tenure abruptly ended when his work permit was revoked by then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The dismissal occurred after Hill famously adhered to international aviation regulations and refused to offload fare-paying passengers on a fully booked London flight to accommodate Rajapaksa and his entourage. This defiant stance earned him a lingering anti-Rajapaksa image, which the industry insiders suggest is a key driver behind the intense corporate and political pressure championing his current appointment. Following his exit from Sri Lanka, Hill held senior executive and advisory roles at several international carriers, including Oman Air and TAAG Angola Airlines. (NF)

https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-...eek/273-338482

And more recently the cabinet approved the selection of ground handling agent in Dubai.
Hard to understand why standard business decisions require cabinet approval.

Colombo Airport Schedule Flight Information - May 2026 Week 1

Updated : 02 May 2026

A/L	DEST	VIA	FLTS PER WEEK IN APR26	FLTS PER WEEK IN MAY26	FREQ VARIATION
3L	AUH	---	4	5	1
6E	BLR	---	13	13	0
6E	BOM	---	7	7	0
6E	DEL	---	6	6	0
6E	HYD	---	6	6	0
6E	MAA	---	27	27	0
8D	DAC	---	5	4	-1
8D	DXB	---	4	4	0
8D	KUL	---	4	2	-2
8D	LHE	---	1	1	0
8D	MLE	---	8	5	-3
AI	BOM	---	7	7	0
AI	DEL	---	14	14	0
AK	KUL	---	7	7	0
CA	TFU	---	6	6	0
CX	HKG	---	7	7	0
EK	DXB	---	20	21	1
EK	DXB	MLE	2	0	-2
EY	AUH	---	22	27	5
FD	DMK	---	7	7	0
FZ	DXB	---	14	14	0
FZ	DXB	MLE	4	3	-1
G9	SHJ	---	7	7	0
GF	BAH	MLE	7	7	0
HM	SEZ	---	2	2	0
J9	DMM	---	10	0	-10
J9	KWI	---	0	7	7
KU	KWI	---	0	1	1
MH	KUL	---	7	7	0
MU	KMG	---	4	3	-1
MU	PVG	---	7	6	-1
OD	KUL	---	3	4	1
OQ	CKG	---	3	2	-1
OQ	MLE	---	3	2	-1
OV	MCT	---	4	5	1
QR	DOH	---	23	21	-2
SQ	SIN	---	12	14	2
SU	SVO	---	4	4	0
TG	BKK	---	7	7	0
TK	IST	---	9	9	0
UL	BKK	---	9	14	5
UL	BLR	---	8	10	2
UL	BOM	---	13	14	1
UL	CAN	---	4	4	0
UL	CGK	---	3	3	0
UL	COK	---	6	7	1
UL	DAC	---	5	7	2
UL	DEL	---	14	14	0
UL	DMM	---	5	4	-1
UL	DOH	---	2	0	-2
UL	DXB	---	6	7	1
UL	FRA	---	0	3	3
UL	GAN	---	2	2	0
UL	HYD	---	4	5	1
UL	ICN	---	2	2	0
UL	IXM	---	4	7	3
UL	KHI	---	4	4	0
UL	KTM	---	4	4	0
UL	KUL	---	9	14	5
UL	KWI	---	2	0	-2
UL	LHE	---	4	4	0
UL	LHR	---	7	7	0
UL	MAA	---	16	21	5
UL	MEL	---	7	7	0
UL	MLE	---	21	21	0
UL	NRT	---	4	4	0
UL	RUH	---	5	4	-1
UL	SIN	---	10	14	4
UL	SYD	---	4	4	0
UL	TRV	---	2	4	2
UL	TRZ	---	6	8	2
WK	ZRH	---	2	2	0

According to Daily FT, Weair will commence the operations from 28 May 2026.

Planned Network :

• Colombo–Bengaluru–Malé–Colombo
• Colombo–Lahore–Dhaka–Malé–Colombo
• Colombo–Malé

Does anyone know the MSN of the B737-800 Freighter going to join Weair fleet?

SriLankan Airlines started discussions to maintain operations according to a new business plan, Subject Minister Anura Karunatileka announced today (6).

The Minister made this statement in Parliament while responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake.

https://hirunews.lk/en/464306/srilan...-business-plan

The aircraft 4R-ALT is an Airbus A330-200 that has been the subject of significant public and legal debate regarding transparency and state spending in Sri Lanka.

​The Situation Regarding 4R-ALT
​The Aircraft: 4R-ALT is an Airbus A330-200 (MSN 1261) that joined the SriLankan Airlines fleet in June 2025. It is on an eight-year lease agreement running until June 2033.

​The Controversy: Because the airline is a state-owned entity, there was significant public demand for transparency regarding the cost of this lease, especially given the country's economic climate. Speculation that it might have been an outright purchase—which would have involved significantly higher upfront capital—fueled these requests.

​The Lease Costs: Legal disclosures (following a Right to Information Commission ruling) revealed a total financial commitment of approximately $26.6 million over the eight-year period.

​​​​​​​https://slguardian.org/secret-airbus...parency-storm/

This Particular News is an classic example for the knowledge gap between industry professionals and the general public / specially the authors or media employees : Highlighting the Aircraft's age while the aircraft 4R-ALT Airbus A330-243 (MSN 1261) which completed 28231 flight hours and 7000 Flight cycles when joining with Sri Lankan Airlines (UL/ALK) , older in age but younger in terms of aircraft lifespan and available flying hours/ usage.