SriLankan Airlines has commissioned a “VIP conversion kit” for one of its new A330 aircraft so that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his inner circle can travel abroad in comfort, authoritative sources said. The conversion kit is produced and installed by the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC). The company is an Airbus subsidiary that offers “top-quality cabin outfitting and innovative packages of nose-to-tail services to VVIP and Head of State ACJ customers”.

It is widely known in aviation circles that one of SriLankan’s new aircraft is being configured especially for the President’s frequent travels abroad. The ACJ website says the kit allows transformation of the forward commercial passenger area into a spacious VIP section. It may include two double-VIP seats and two Club-Four VIP seats with Hi/Lo tables.

“To complement this VIP configuration and bring a warmer ambience and greater privacy, the forward area also features partitions, high quality leather upholstery, woolen carpets and elegant curtains,” it adds. “In order to meet special needs, other customised configurations are designed on demand.”
The kit can typically be installed within eight hours. However, it is not known what special features were requested on behalf of President Rajapaksa or whether these would take longer to put in place. It is also not clear how much the deal cost. A spokesman for ACJC refused to divulge details.

“Airbus has a modern family of corporate jets, about 170 of which are in widespread service with a variety of companies, individuals and governments,” David Velupillai, Marketing Director, told the Sunday Times. “Most of these customers ask for discretion, and we naturally respect their wishes, so we are often unable to provide information about specific customers. One option is indeed to offer customers a VIP kit, which can be installed relatively quickly in part of the cabin of an airliner to provide a cost-effective short-term corporate jet solution to government needs,” he added. “The cost of such a kit will depend on exactly what is involved, and is commercially confidential.”

SriLankan has ordered ten new aircraft from Airbus: six A330-300s and four new generation A350-900s. One A330 has already been delivered while another is due in December. Some airlines buy VIP conversion kits for commercial purposes but the sources said only President Rajapaksa was likely to use the one that has been commissioned for him. Last year, Bangkok Airways acquired a kit that could turn part of an A319 aircraft into a luxury cabin with sofas, tables and other amenities.

The purchase was announced to the public with Bangkok Airways President Puttipong Prasartthong-Osoth revealing that the company had paid US$ 5-6 million to a French company (not ACJC) for the kit. He was also quoted as saying that the aircraft with VIP configuration would be used by his father and Bangkok Airways founder Prasert in addition to being available for general charter.

President Rajapaksa usually travels on an A340 from SriLankan’s existing fleet. It was in service on Thursday when he and his entourage flew to Rome for an audience with Pope Francis.