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**4R-ALA** · 30-09-2014, 10:47 AM

UL second a321 4rabr in colombo xD

**4R-ALA** · 30-09-2014, 10:48 AM

UL also plans for one off service of a333 to hkg via bkk in Nov 2014. even one off service on board a333 to male which will later go on to become scheduled a333 service as per airlineroute.net

**4R-ALA** · 30-09-2014, 10:52 AM

so basically on 15th Nov first a333 service is to hkg via bkk and once the aircraft is back in cmb on 15th of Nov itself I assume it will then fly scheduled a333 service to nrt which is also onthe 15 Nov cZ the flight arrives in cmb at 2015hrs and nrt bound departs at 2240 hrs or so.

am I right ??

**banuthev** · 30-09-2014, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

Any chance Gulf Air re-entering Colombo market?

I think LCC Bahrain Air should try the Colombo route. If I am not mistaken Gulf Air still not in the position to expand their route network. Correct me if I'm wrong.

**banuthev** · 30-09-2014, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by 4R-ALA View Post

UL second a321 4rabr in colombo xD

How did you find out? I still can't see the movement of 4R-ABR in flightradar24.

**banuthev** · 30-09-2014, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by 4R-ALA View Post

UL also plans for one off service of a333 to hkg via bkk in Nov 2014. even one off service on board a333 to male which will later go on to become scheduled a333 service as per airlineroute.net

Originally posted by 4R-ALA View Post

so basically on 15th Nov first a333 service is to hkg via bkk and once the aircraft is back in cmb on 15th of Nov itself I assume it will then fly scheduled a333 service to nrt which is also onthe 15 Nov cZ the flight arrives in cmb at 2015hrs and nrt bound departs at 2240 hrs or so.

am I right ??

4R-ALL will operate the first revenue flight to BKK/HKG to train the crew.

**Haleef** · 30-09-2014, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

How did you find out? I still can't see the movement of 4R-ABR in flightradar24.

4R-ABR is now in Colombo !!!

Source: Aviation Voice

**Srilankan1** · 30-09-2014, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by Haleef View Post

4R-ABR is now in Colombo !!!

Thanks Haleef.

**4R-ALA** · 30-09-2014, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

I think LCC Bahrain Air should try the Colombo route. If I am not mistaken Gulf Air still not in the position to expand their route network. Correct me if I'm wrong.

FYI Bahrain air is no more. It's been over 3 yrs since they ceased. xD

**banuthev** · 30-09-2014, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by Haleef View Post

4R-ABR is now in Colombo !!!

Thanks Haleef. It's nice to see the second A321 in UL fleet. 4R-ABR must have have been ferried in CMB yesterday evening or today morning. Do you have the interior pictures of 4R-ABR ? When/Where it's going to operate the first revenue flight?

**Haleef** · 30-09-2014, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

Thanks Haleef. It's nice to see the second A321 in UL fleet. 4R-ABR must have have been ferried in CMB yesterday evening or today morning. Do you have the interior pictures of 4R-ABR ? When/Where it's going to operate the first revenue flight?

No problem

Still not at the moment bro.. Cause it arrived today in the afternoon, not much people saw inside yet

My father is operating a Narita flight and is there at the moment.. As soon as he gets back I'll get some photos of the interior of ABR

**banuthev** · 30-09-2014, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by 4R-ADA View Post

No chance in hell. The yields, for BA will be atrocious.
I am not surprised that BA is pulling out of CMB yet again. It was doomed to fail given that it was a low frequency service with a stop over, and from Gatwick.
Given that this is merely an extension of the existing MLE service, where 90% of the capacity was dedicated to, that means the loads to CMB could only be minimal.

The connections from LHR onto North America were missed from this operation. I know UL offer connections through LHR onwards to North America with their oneworld partners, but I feel that if BA had operated this to LHR and not LGW, the results would be better, given the far superior product BA can offer.

Hopefully this might give a chance for KLM to re-enter the market.

Sri Lankan tourism is currently booming, and the departure of BA will not create any dire impact.

It' will be nice to see KLM back in Colombo! But do you think KLM can survive in Colombo route? In my opinion KLM should fly five weekly A332 service to Colombo. Two or three years ago, Amsterdam based Arkefly used to operate with good passenger loads to Colombo in all seasons Summer/Winter. That was a two weekly onboard B767. Notsure why Arkefly suspend the CMB operations? Once again loved to see KLM in Colombo.

**sfernando34** · 30-09-2014, 07:55 PM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

It' will be nice to see KLM back in Colombo! But do you think KLM can survive in Colombo route? In my opinion KLM should fly five weekly A332 service to Colombo. Two or three years ago, Amsterdam based Arkefly used to operate with good passenger loads to Colombo in all seasons Summer/Winter. That was a two weekly onboard B767. Notsure why Arkefly suspend the CMB operations? Once again loved to see KLM in Colombo.

Honestly, I don't think there would be a big enough market between AMS and CMB. I would suggest a route via MLE, but as we can see that didn't work for British Airways, even when there is a significant contingent of passengers traveling between the UK and Sri Lanka. While it would be nice to see them return, i don't think it would work well

**dramirez** · 30-09-2014, 08:53 PM

Originally posted by sfernando34 View Post

Honestly, I don't think there would be a big enough market between AMS and CMB. I would suggest a route via MLE, but as we can see that didn't work for British Airways, even when there is a significant contingent of passengers traveling between the UK and Sri Lanka. While it would be nice to see them return, i don't think it would work well

It's not really about O&D demand between AMS and CMB, it's about the transit demand between Europe/N America and CMB. The main issue is that the gulf carriers have this market by the throat and the European airlines can barely get an edge in. The one advantage of KL into CMB would be to access Canada.

**SLAA** · 01-10-2014, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by sfernando34 View Post

Honestly, I don't think there would be a big enough market between AMS and CMB. I would suggest a route via MLE, but as we can see that didn't work for British Airways, even when there is a significant contingent of passengers traveling between the UK and Sri Lanka. While it would be nice to see them return, i don't think it would work well

I feel like KLM stands the best chance of all European airlines of operating successfully into CMB. KLM has a strong UK market (they fly to 13 airports there), who often transit through their AMS hub. They also have amazing connections with North and South America from Asia. Netherlands is also the biggest Western European market not served by direct flights into Sri Lanka. Furthermore, SkyTeam needs a better presence in Lanka, especially from Europe. They often have competitive prices for connections via Europe, and also offer what, in my opinion, is some of the best service amongst European carriers, especially in the premium market.

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