SPECIAL COLOURS - SriLankan Airlines unveils special livery to promote Colombo Nawam Maha Perahera

 4R-ANC / Airbus A321-251N

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Int'l - VTBS, Thailand

Photo: Whisky Juliet Yankee

SriLankan Airlines and Gangaramaya Temple launch a global campaign for the 2026 Navam Maha Perahera, promoting Sri Lanka's heritage with a special Airbus A321neo.

FLEET - SriLankan Airlines eyes revival with expanded fleet

State-owned SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) has developed a new five-year corporate plan after the government abandoned ambitions last year to sell a majority stake in the flag carrier. SriLankan's chairman, Sarath Ganegoda, told reporters that the plan, which follows on from a five-year plan released in 2019, emphasises operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and customer satisfaction. It also foregrounds an expanding fleet.

Ganegoda said the carrier will soon add three new aircraft to its fleet and that it needs 27 aircraft to meet its operational requirements. According to ch-aviation fleets data, SriLankan Airlines operates 22 aircraft, including seven A320-200s, two A320-200Ns, four A321-200Ns (three are inactive), two A330-200s, and seven A330-300s. ch-aviation contacted SriLankan Airlines for more information about the new aircraft.

The Sri Lankan government appointed Ganegoda to the chair's role in October 2024 after it decided to refresh the airline's board. He replaced Ashok Pathirage, who had served as chairman since 2019. Ganegoda has also served as an executive director at Hayleys Group, a local publicly-listed cross-sector conglomerate.

Hayleys was one of six entities that participated in the pre-qualification to bid process when the government was looking to privatise SriLankan in the first half of last year. Hayleys was later put on the shortlist, along with two other potential buyers. However, in July 2024, the government dropped the privatisation plans, with the then aviation minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva, saying none of the potential bidders were suitable.

CH Aviation

Photo: SriLankan

 

SriLankan Airlines restructures leases, secures gov't funds

 

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) has renegotiated several aircraft leases saving the airline USD150 million over five years as part of efforts to put the carrier on a stronger financial footing, chairman Ashok Pathirage has said without revealing the lessors or the aircraft affected.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the state-owned carrier operates a fleet of 24 aircraft including five A319-100s, two A320-200Ns, one A321-200, four A321-200Ns, five A330-200s, and seven A330-300s all of which are leased from AerCap (three), Air Lease Corporation (seven), Aircastle (one), Avolon (six), Carlyle Aviation Partners (one), Park Aerospace Holdings (one), Peregrine Aviation (one), and Whitney Leasing (one).

He told Economy Next magazine the state-owned airline in December had also received the first USD150 million tranche of a USD500 million state financial aid package, with the balance of USD350 million expected over two years.

In addition, Pathirage said, the airline has initiated a voluntary retirement scheme after the cabinet last year approved an LKR1.46 billion rupee (USD8.2 million) compensation package for voluntary retrenchments. This would reduce the workforce from 7,000 to 5,000, he said.

SriLankan airlines reported a LKR36 billion loss (USD186 million) for the year to August 2020 despite having operated repatriation and cargo flights since the country went into COVID-19 lockdown on March 17 last year.

Sri Lanka re-opened for limited international arrivals on January 21, 2021, which Pathirage believed would help the airline to recover to 75-80% of pre-crisis levels by the end of 2021. "We think the worst is in the past now and we can look forward to a gradual improvement in aviation, travel, and tourism. The vaccine is great news for all of us ... hopefully, it will release restrictions and people will have the confidence to travel again."

Meanwhile, Group Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka confirmed to ch-aviation the airline would soon announce a request for proposals for two Airbus dedicated freighters as per state procurement guidelines. The carrier currently operates one A321-200N, three A330-200s, and six A330-300s for cargo purposes. The airline is seeking to triple or even quadruple its freight volumes over the next two years to reduce reliance on passenger operations, Pathirage added.

ch aviation

SriLankan to axe France, Germany flights in 4Q

SriLankan Airlines has revised its international longhaul network plans with service to both France and Germany to be discontinued during the last quarter of the year.

The carrier said in a statement issued Monday, June 27 that its 4x weekly service to Frankfurt Int'l would end on October 30, while its 4x weekly service to Paris CDG would end on November 6. Daily flights to London Heathrow will, however, be retained.

Last year, management planned to scrap both services only to retain them in the hopes a decline in fuel prices would help offset either route's continued losses. However, following a meeting last week with the carrier's owner, the Sri Lankan government, the decision was taken to axe both routes given Colombo's unwillingness to sustain further losses.

"Addition of capacity to the Colombo Int'l market, particularly by Middle Eastern carriers, accompanied by a drop in airfares in European markets, has seen the contribution of the European network's drop in comparison to other routes. This has been further exacerbated by the depreciation of the Euro against the Dollar," the statement read.

In line with plans to focus more on regional services to India, the Gulf, and China, SriLankan has decided to scrub its planned order for seven A350-900s. Three of the aircraft were to have leased from AerCap with the remaining four ordered direct from Airbus Industrie .

ch aviation

SriLankan expands route map with Qatar Airways

Passengers offered connections to multiple global destinations via Doha


SriLankan Airlines has expanded its codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways, offering passengers a series of new one-stop connections from Colombo to destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America.

Both airlines will codeshare on each other’s flights between Colombo and Doha, including Qatar Airways’ three daily services and SriLankan’s daily flight.

And SriLankan’s passengers can now transit through Doha’s Hamad International Airport to 20 onward destinations, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Copenhagen, Moscow, Rome, Frankfurt, Geneva, Manchester, Milan, Oslo, Sofia, Stockholm, Vienna, Zurich, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Bahrain and Cape Town.

Travellers will be able to earn frequent flyer points on all codeshare flights.

“It is our pleasure to seal a codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways to allow our passengers the flexibility and convenience of effective onward connectivity to a number of destinations,” said SriLankan’s CEO, Captain Suren Ratwatte. “We are also glad to tie up with another oneworld member in our strategic network expansion drive as we celebrate the second anniversary as an alliance member in May this year.”

Both SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways are members of the oneworld alliance.

Mark Elliott / Travel news

SriLankan Airlines Cancels Rome Service from May 2016

SriLankan Airlines today (16FEB16) had adjusted its operation for summer 2016 season, which sees the closure of Colombo – Rome service. Last flight for this 3 weekly flights is scheduled on 30APR16, as reservation for flights on/after 01MAY16 is closed.
Planned schedule for May 2016 as follow.
UL581 CMB0125 – 0755FCO 332 246
UL582 FCO1555 – 0505+1CMB 332 246

Routes Online

SriLankan Airlines W15 London Operation Changes

SriLankan Airlines starting 05DEC15 once again increases Colombo – London Heathrow operation, where it’ll operate 9 weekly flights, instead of 7. The additional flights will operate on Saturdays and Sundays, with A330-300 aircraft.

UL505 CMB0225 – 0845LHR 333 67

UL503 CMB1250 – 1910LHR 333 D

UL506 LHR1235 – 0435+1CMB 333 67

UL504 LHR2040 – 1240+1CMB 333 D

Routes Online

Photo:Alain Charpentier - TLS

SriLankan set to end A340 operations this November

SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo Int'l) is set to phase out its fleet of four A340-300s in November this year a review of schedule data has revealed. 

the type's last commercial flights to Guangzhou via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi are scheduled for October 25, Riyadh for October 28, Shanghai Pudong for October 30, and Doha Hamad Int'l for November 1.

Airline Routes

SriLankanAirlines‬ operated a special charter flight to ‪‎Kathmandu‬, ‪Nepal‬ carrying essential goods weighting 28 tons and 97 Sri Lankan military personnel representing Army, Air Force and Navy.

Representing the Government and People of Sri Lanka Minister for Disaster Management M.H. Fawzi together with other officials met President of the Nepal Ram Baran Yadav and the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and handed over relief goods.Representing the Government and People of Sri Lanka Minister for Disaster Management M.H. Fawzi together with other officials met President of the Nepal Ram Baran Yadav and the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and handed over relief goods.

SriLankan

Mihin Lanka, SriLankan Airlines to be merged

Mihin Lanka  and its sister carrier, SriLankan Airlines , are to be merged into a single entity as part of the new Sri Lankan government's plans to cut down on unnecessary expenditure.

SriLankan Airlines receives first of six new A330-300 on order

Airline continues to grow its all-Airbus fleet with its newest member

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, has taken delivery of its first A330-300 becoming a new operator for the type. The wide-body aircraft arrived at Colombo International Airport, having flown from Toulouse, France, and joins the airlines’ existing fleet of A320, A321, A330-200 and A340-300 aircraft. SriLankan will take delivery of a further five A330-300s.

“We have a reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, reliability and punctuality; all of which are qualities reflected in selecting the A330,” said Kapila Chandrasena, CEO of SriLankan Airlines. “The addition of the A330-300 to our family will enable us to drive our offering to new heights.”

SriLankan Airlines and Airbus embarked upon a long-term, strategic partnership in 1993 when the airline began operating the A320 and A340. It has since grown to be an all Airbus operator, and is now an award winning carrier, expanding and diversifying its wide range of products and services to drive the country’s ongoing boom in tourism and economic development.

"Combining the highest levels of reliability, superior economics and great passenger appeal, the A330-300 will fit seamlessly into the SriLankan Airlines’ fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “We are very proud of our two decades of partnership with SriLankan Airlines and that they have built their success on our aircraft.”

SRILANKAN - A330-300 - F-WWYX

Alain Charpentier - TLS

SriLankan Airlines outlines initial A330-300 service plans

SriLankan Airlines will introduce its first of six A330-300s on order from Airbus into revenue service on November 15. Airline Route reports that provisional operations will begin on November 15 with Colombo Int'l to Frankfurt Int'l flights to be followed by Malé on November 16.

As part of its fleet renewal programme, the new A330s will replace the SriLankan national carrier's fleet of six A340-300s while seven A350-900s will replace its fleet of seven A330-200s when they begin arriving from 2017 onwards.

SRILANKAN - A321-200 - A7-ADX (First A321, next reg: 4R-ABQ)

Jan Jurečka - Ostrava Leos Janacek Airport - LKMT

SriLankan Airlines to acquire three ex-Qatar Airways A321-200s

SriLankan Airlines is to acquire three former Qatar Airways A321-200s according to Skyliner Aviation.

SriLankan Airlines to get 13 Airbus aircraft with 7 A350s - Corrected

Apr 28, 2013 (LBO) - State-run SriLankan Airlines will acquire seven Airbus A350-900 and six A330-300 aircraft to upgrade its product and cut costs starting from October 2014, chief executive Kapila Chandrasena said.

SriLankan will acquire 10 aircraft from Airbus through a mix of operating and finance leases in a deal which has a 'present value' of 1.2 billion US dollars and another three from an aircraft leasing firm, he said.

Cabinet approval has been given to sign a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 10 purchase options and the first aircraft is expected to arrive starting from October 2014, he said.

The aircraft are to be delivered over 7 years.

In the first phase six Airbus A340 aircraft which are up to 18 to 16 years old will be replaced by A330-300 aircraft.

Seven A330-200 aircraft which are around 13 to 16 years old will be replaced starting from 2017 with A350-900 aircraft. Three will come from an aviation leasing firm as there were no manufacturing slots available at Airbus in that period.

The balance four A350s will be acquired from Airbus Industries starting from 2019.

SriLankan was aiming to maintain a fleet with an average age of about five years. SriLankan has already modernized its A320 narrow body fleet of eight aircraft.

With several very old aircraft in the fleet, the airline could not give the same level of service to all passengers and operating costs were also high.

"If you look at our configurations we could not standardize service," Chandrasena said.

"With the new aircraft everyone will get the same experience.

"Fuel is 50 percent of our operating costs. With newer aircraft fuel is about 40 percent. That is a huge quantum of savings."

Even after accounting for acquisition costs, a net gain of 7 to 10 percent could be made with new aircraft, he said.

The aircraft will be financed with a mixture of finance and operating leases. Industry practice was to have about 30 percent on finance leases, Chandrasena said.

Last year the airline made an operating loss of 20.5 billion rupees, according to published data.

The new aircraft would also be able to carry a full load of passengers without sacrificing cargo over long haul destinations, he said.

Airbus will also give 31 million US dollars worth tools, equipment and training to set up an aircraft maintenance and repair facility (MRO) for the new types.

"We are also targeting the regional airlines that will be an additional revenue stream for SriLankan as well."

Sri Lankan Engineering is already servicing A320 aircraft for a number of regional airlines at its facility in Katunayake. A second facility is to be set up in Mattala.

Corrected - headline - six A330s and seven A350s

Lanka Business online

SRILANKAN - A340-300, 4R-ADG

Flying Photos - LPPT