Hri

Hey guys!

Here are my thoughts:
The idea that HRI can share passengers through transfers is simply not feasible. HRI will never be in a position to be a low-cost alternative to CMB simply because of this; distance

If you look at the major hubs of the world, and you look at the case of low cost and standard airports, as well as standard models, they are never so far in between.

Using Google Maps, I'll illustrate a few examples of distances between hub airports and their out of city, low cost counter parts.

London Heathrow and Stansted - 99km
Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schonefeld - 31km
Sydney and the proposed Western Sydney airport - 53km
Dubai and Al Maktoum (Jebel Ali) - 66km
Dubai and Sharjah - 26km
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang - 38km

And using your example, Srilankan1, of buses between two completely different cities, Bratislava and Vienna = 71 km

And between CMB and HRI? = A grand total of 212km

I hope this allows to exhibit what a mistake it would be to use HRI as a low cost alternative for Colombo airport. It's just not feasible;

1) It's not far enough to be a completely different market, because the Hambantota region will only be able to cater to its sparsely populated town, and potentially Yala, maybe Matara. Galle is closer to CMB than HRI [Source Google Maps]).

2) Yet, it is not close enough to be an airport serving Colombo.

So as I'm bored at work, the next post will entail what I believe it can be used for

My suggestion for HRI is for it to be an aviation knowledge and technical hub;

1) Location for Manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier. Boeing and Airbus have a number of plants in Asia which manufacture aircraft parts (e.g. Singapore). Enabling HRI to be developed into something like that will allow for way lower costs than places like Singapore, and will allow for lesser popular companies like Embraer and Bombardier to reach out to the African, Chinese and Indian markets where aircraft orders are ballooning.

2) Properly invest in making HRI a full-scale MRO hub. Has anyone heard of what happened with the planned collaboration with Lufthansa Teknik

3) Open up a branch of Cranfield, Embry-Riddle, or even the Singapore Aviation Academy. Have the government invest tons into its becoming a aviation-research park. It would be innovative, and something unheard of in this region. Attract foreign collaboration, etc. Not only make this an aviation school for pilots, but also a proper institute with a number of other subjects on offer. Cranfield and Embry are basic the Harvards of the aviation world, and it would allow them to attract a lot of international students in the region. It would be very similar to what Monash has done with opening overseas campuses (E.g. in geographically strategic, low cost locations which can attract a wide catchment of students)HRI could even become a university town! Just like those that are in States with a high number of research institutions. The money has already been spent, so it has to be used in a smart way.

Sorry - strongly disagree.

All of these suggestions require massive investment - I doubt this would make the operation of HRI profitable. The only money going to the airport would be leasing fees for the land and landing/handling fees.

The big picture - Sri Lanka is in terrible financial shape. There is no money available. Enough public funds have been wasted on this already. Cheapest option will be to close this down.

This should never have been built in the first place - it's time people recognise this.

All of these options require large numbers of skilled staff - where are they going to come from? The expertise does not exist in Sri Lanka and if you train people they will be able to earn 2 or 3 times the salary working overseas. What do you think will happen?

Close it down - investigate the entire project and charge those responsible. Let's have some accountability for a change!

ejanson65 - As you can see from my post, I did not attach a date for it. This was for the specific reason you highlighted; the fact that Sri Lanka is in massive debt, and many other priorities need to place with our national budget. This is a project I would like to see happen over the long term (i.e. 2035/2045). As our current thread discussions have been what to do with HRI, this was simply me sharing what I believe is best for the land in the long term now that it has been built.

However, your statement about the land leasing/handling fees is inaccurate. A future project of this scale would provide massive foreign investment to the area, job generation, as well as a foray into what Sri Lanka is lacking; innovation and knowledge creation, especially in a niche area.

Today F-WWCP heading some where - http://www.flightradar24.com/data/ai...f-wwcp#5615826

Not seen today !!!
Sorry.

4r-aln

4R-ALN / F-WWCP f/f 28jan15, ferried 29jan15 TLS-CHR for paint

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the government plans to merge the national carrier SriLankan Airlines and the Mihin Lanka budget airline.

SriLankan Airlines has lost over 100 billion rupees over the past five years and Mihin Airlines has lost 15 billion rupees in the same period.

Arghhh, bad day today !!! we have heavy rain from this morning ...
I'll keep a look on FR24 to ( try ) go.
Thank for the advisory.

Close it down ? and then the millions pumped into things from the runway lighting to approach radar to ..

there are options which don't require investment, like MRO, or lease it to a private operator, like Fedex/DHL did, in other countries

I am sure, with an attractive lease, somebody will be tempted ..

PS, as for skilled staff, well, let me not tell you this, that most third world MRO companies didn't start with skilled staff, they acquired it as part of re-skilling ..

I got the 4R-ALN this afternoon . Châteauroux airport for livrery .
Please enjoy !!







Bad, bad weather.

Does this have the center fuel tanks??

Wow

Yeh I agree with you, closing it down after spending $200m is just dumb. At least if you lease parts of the land (to MROs, flight schools etc) you can recover some of the $200m back. And no investment would be needed by the govt since the lessees would be investing in these facilities, not the government. IMHO SLAA is right on the money here.

Great pics! Many thanks!