I remember 5Y did fly to CMB back in 2015 as per this discussion in our Plane Spotting Thread.



Hi Haleef, Do you know if 5Y visited CMB after 2015?

F3 looking for expansion to India in 2025. Are they also interested in flying to CMB?

Multiple jets diverting to different airports/doing circuits due to weather conditions at CMB..


CHOASATCMB2.jpg CHAOSATCMB3.jpg CHOASATCMB1.jpg

maybe TR, AXB?
also, has 5Y ever flown to CMB?

4R-ALN is now back in service.
4R-ALNFIRSTFLIGHT.jpg

As far as I am aware, KE was supposed to start flights to CMB during June of 2023, after the repeated delay of UL flights to ICN. but it never went through for some reason, same with SV. Seems like SL is not really a priority for KE. But there was a rumor going around that KE is actually interested to start flights to CMB and MLE during W25.

When I was in Korea for work, I asked my Korean colleagues whether they preferred to visit Thailand or Sri lanka, most people said that they would prefer Thailand because of the increasing connectivity options, they said they didn't fancy taking multiple connecting flights to a destination when they easy access Thailand. Most of them said they travel to SL only to connect towards to the Maldives, quite a shame actually. Out of 10 people I asked who were good friends of mine (They travel frequently), only two of them have visited SL, others said they visited Thailand and the Maldives.

I actually travel on KE annually, on their 747s and 777s. I use ICN as a transit point before connecting onwards to ATL and LAX. KE is actually a very good alternative compared to AI or EK.

Hi MAW, Wizzwavesien and rest of the team,

UL has postponed the expansion of CMB-ICN flight from 2 to 3 weekly in late Dec24. I see CMB-ICN UL flight remain the same with 2 weekly for whole W24.

I see KE is resuming KTM route in S25. Is KE not interested in resuming ICN-CMB-MLE route? KE can be additional option for pax travelling between CMB and Western Canada and Western US cities. Do you think there are demand for operating both UL 2 weekly (CMB-ICN) and KE 3 weekly (ICN-CMB-MLE) year-round?

I don't believe that AK is interested in 8D, don't get me wrong, it would be very nice to see an 8D and AK partnership but i'm not sure it is actually gonna be happen and I don't know the feasibility of it, 8D is basically acting as an substitute for for Air Asia Sri Lanka, and most likely I think during the long run that 8D might partner up with AK, most likely in codeshares and etc..

And yes, CMB can be a LCC regional hub, what more airlines do you think should introduce flights to CMB (including Premium and Low cost carriers)?

I see CMB has good potential as LCC regional hub. Mostly LCC airlines (8D, 6E, AK, FZ, G9, J9, 3K, OV, 3L have shown interest introducing more flights from CMB apart from premium carriers EK, EY, QR. I think this is a good opportunity for 8D to expand to Far East, Gulf and South Asia. Is AirAsia not interested in partnership with Fitsair after exit of AirAsia India?

Ah, thank you for the information.

I'm unsure of what is going to happen during this past few days, But I am hoping that management at UL will investigate the contract as soon as possible. But I have heard that 4R-ALT will be getting delivered this month, or maybe even the early next month, but we will have to wait and see..

4R-ALT is still being stored in LETL and the reason I think for the delay in delivery of 4 x A330 as the lease agreement was signed by previous gov officials for amid aircraft shortage. The current UL management must be investigating if the contract for leasing 4 x A330 is genuine unlike previous A350 order by UL.

I am glad UL is bringing back the grounded aircraft back to revenue ops. It's important that all the aircraft in the fleet is operational as UL liable to make lease payments for the current fleet (13 NB + 9 WB = 22 in total).

If UL don't take any new aircraft to the fleet, the fleet size will stand with 20 aircraft after ABL and MRE left in 2025.
​I feel UL better aim to bring flight ops atleast like below in 2025. How many aircraft needed in order to fill the below frequencies of flights? ​

Small addition,
ANF and AND are expecting to complete their maintenance by mid December or end of December!

Don't know about 4R-ALH, but MAW said that 4R-ANF AND 4R-AND will fly soon after maintenance. Not sure about 4R-ANE.

good to see UL getting their birds ready now for the holidays.
any update on ALH, AND, ANE, ANF?