LOL does he still work for UL?

I think whilst HRI isn't doing as well as expected a bit of publicity cant hurt! IMHO really wish they built a new state of the art airport somewhere in the middle of the island which could've acted as a single hub for all of SL- then built expressways to link all corners of the island with it. But its good to have an alternative airport- even Maldives has Gan Airport.

I am wondering why flightradar24 not showing any movements of 4R-ALH and 4R-ADF since 20-Apr-2014.

SriLankan Airlines's A320 (4R-ABP) flew to Gan Island on 20-Apr-2014 as below. Does anybody know more about this flight? As far as i know UL doesn't operate the revenue flight to Gan Island yet. Someone please confirm.

2014-04-20	Doha (DOH)	Colombo (CMB)	UL4218	-	22:47	-	Landed 03:03	
2014-04-20	Gan Island (GAN)	Doha (DOH)	UL4217	-	15:43	-	Landed 21:23	
2014-04-20	Colombo (CMB)	Gan Island (GAN)	UL4217

Truth is bitter.

SriLankan Airlines signs MRO deal with IndiGo

Looks like MRO facility at HRI getting some business.

Looks like we have quite a few people who watch ITN and Rupavahini on the forum
Why is it so hard to get over the fact that it's a failed project. I can't wait for the newest victim, Rotana Jet to realize the seriousness of the mistake it has made by flying into this deserted airport.

DWC is doing great as a Cargo hub, I don't think they're even trying to attract passenger flights. HRI on the other hand is attracting neither.

Speaking of Gan, any idea how Maldivian is doing in CMB-GAN?

All I'm saying is that its difficult to make a new airport make money becz its not like the GOSL made an extension to BIA.

And in Dubai yes DWC is trying to attract passenger flights too fyi.
However atm its not working so well.
The Dubai authorities did all sorts of arrangements to attract existing PAX operators at DUBAI international to shift to DWC during runway expansion, but most airlines have opted for Sharjah instead.

As far as I can remember CMB used to be literally empty until a few yrs ago.
Even Sharjah airport used to be/is much busier than CMB.
So HRI would naturally take much more to get some amt of people as well. And yes HRI is a failed project no doubt but let them keep trying to popularize HRI.

For a second time, Maldivian terminated the flight service to Colombo effective Summer 2014.

Well - let me give this a try...

My issue with HRI is that is was built for the wrong reasons - political not economic.

Was there a demand for a second International Airport in Sri Lanka? NO!
Is there a business case for HRI? NO!
Can Sri Lanka afford HRI? NO!

The truth is that this (and other) mega projects bring zero benefits to ordinary Sri Lankans. The only people who benefit are a few hired as "Consultants" or who get paid to issue the various permits.

There are plenty of airports in Sri Lanka already. You develop airports as follows:-

Start small and as the market grows you add larger aircraft and expand/improve facilities. That is how most of today's major airports have developed over the years - driven by Economics and not Politics.

These mega projects have bankrupted the country. In case you haven't noticed nobody is lending money to Sri Lanka any more.

SriLankan should be a profitable Airline but politics have once again prevailed. Islamic loans means that they cannot obtain traditional financing. If the published figures are correct - they have enough money to operate until the end of the year. That still leaves them with huge debts that they cannot pay back. Financial figures for 2013/14 will back this up.

There's one word that sums up the whole mess perfectly - Hubris. Look it up.

well on my last visit i saw 3 A340s were been towed to the hanger
One was ADG , but heard one more in the hanger too so tht means 4 A 340s have to be in hanger :/

Probably waiting for a oneworld color upgrade??

First the second airport was mandatory! as in case of BIA closure we don't loose traffic!! BIA can't handle anymore traffic so we needed an other airport wich can handle it! Third No airports are making money within few years! Even BIA needed a plenty of years before it was marketed well in the world! Same thing happened to Linate and Malpensa Airports in Italy but now they are full of traffic! Malpensa airport is in the middle of nowhere connected to the with rail, bus and highway but this happened later when malpensa became interocontinental airport and now it's the main Europe HUB for Easyjet!
My opinion is, give time to time and see the difference! An empty airport today could be a HUB to the world in a near future! Just wait and don't always try to talk bad, because very few people knows the subject in this forum.
Cheers!

SriLankan Airlines S14 Bangkok Operation Changes as of 25APR14

SriLankan Airlines since 30MAR14 has changed operation aircraft on 1 of 2 daily Colombo – Bangkok service, which sees Mihin Lanka A320 aircraft operating. Business Class service is not offered on Mihin Lanka A320 aircraft on this route.

UL402 CMB0110 – 0615BKK 320 D
UL882 CMB0705 – 1210BKK 332 x146
UL422 CMB0715 – 1220BKK 332 14
UL422 CMB0720 – 1220BKK 332 6

UL403 BKK0850 – 1040CMB 320 357
UL403 BKK0905 – 1055CMB 320 x357
UL423 BKK2110 – 2300CMB 332 146
UL883 BKK2150 – 2340CMB 332 x146

HRI is a completely different situation than MXP/LIN - you are comparing 2 completely different things.

BIA is nowhere near capacity. When was the last time it closed?

Because HRI does not issue a terminal forecast you cannot legally file it as an alternate on a flightplan. It's a useless airport.

HRI from empty airport to hub to the world - that's funny! Like that's going to happen...

I fly aircraft for a living.