What do you mean Melbourne is the second biggest city outside of Colombo?

Using your logic to decide where UL should fly will only further financially burden UL. Routes should be decided based on commercial factors like yield and profitability, not peoples egos.

@lordvader look at the number that are leaving Melbourne to Cmb all year round .... At the moment Sri Lankans in Melbourne are using 4-5 other international airlines with a transit to get to cmb. So why not put a flight to Australia ?? If they can fly to Seychelles I don't see why they can't fly into melb and that's using logic just like you asked.

SriLankan Airlines & Mihin Lanka outlook improves following strategic adjustments by new government

SriLankan Airlines / Mihin Lanka Summer 2015 Flight Network as per 13/2/2015 display

Highlights

• SriLankan flights to Mattala and Moscow cancelled; Chongqing flights are not operating in Summer and resumption of Chongqing flights are unknown;
• SriLankan flights to Bejing, Shanghai, Jeddah, Chennai, Bangkok out of Mattala cancelled;
• Mihin Lanka flights to Medan, Gaya, Madurai and Varanasi out of Mattala cancelled;
• SriLankan flights to Chennai are increasing from 21 to 26 weekly;
• SriLankan flights to Muscat reducing from 7 to 4 weekly and sold the three weekly slots to codeshare partner Oman Air who have increased the Colombo flights from 7 to 10 weekly;
• SriLankan flights to Dammam are increasing from 3 to 4 weekly;
• SriLankan flights to London are reducing from 9 to 7 weekly;
• Mihin Lanka flights are Dhaka are increasing from 5 to 6 weekly;

Flight ORIGIN VIA DEST Frequency operated by Notes

Leg 1 only

0101 CMB NONSTOP MLE 1234567 UL Male flights reducing from 36 to 32 weekly
0103 CMB NONSTOP MLE 1234567 UL
0105 CMB NONSTOP MLE 1234567 UL
0109 CMB NONSTOP MLE 1XX4X67 UL
0115 CMB NONSTOP MLE 1234567 UL
0121 CMB NONSTOP MAA 1234567 UL Chennai flights increasing from 21 to 26 weekly
0123 CMB NONSTOP MAA 1234567 UL
0125 CMB NONSTOP MAA 1234XX7 UL
0127 CMB NONSTOP MAA 1234567 UL
0131 CMB NONSTOP TRZ 1234567 UL
0133 CMB NONSTOP TRZ 1234567 UL
0141 CMB NONSTOP BOM 1234567 UL
0161 CMB NONSTOP TRV 1234567 UL
0165 CMB NONSTOP COK 1234567 UL
0167 CMB NONSTOP COK 1234567 UL
0171 CMB NONSTOP BLR 1234567 UL
0173 CMB NONSTOP BLR 1X3X5X7 UL
0183 CMB NONSTOP KHI 1234567 UL
0195 CMB NONSTOP DEL 1234567 UL
0205 CMB NONSTOP MCT X2X4X67 UL Muscat flights reducing from 7 to 4 weekly
0207 CMB NONSTOP AUH 1234567 UL
0217 CMB NONSTOP DOH 1234567 UL
0225 CMB NONSTOP DXB 1234567 UL
0229 CMB NONSTOP KWI 1234567 UL
0263 CMB NONSTOP DMM X2X4X67 UL Dammam flights are increasing from 3 to 4 weekly
0265 CMB NONSTOP RUH 1234XX7 UL
0281 CMB NONSTOP JED 12X45X7 UL
0302 CMB NONSTOP SIN 1X3X567 UL
0306 CMB NONSTOP SIN 1234567 UL
0308 CMB NONSTOP SIN 1234567 UL
0314 CMB NONSTOP KUL 1234567 UL
0318 CMB NONSTOP KUL 1234567 UL
0402 CMB NONSTOP BKK 1234567 UL
0422 CMB BANGKOK HKG 1XX4X6X UL
0454 CMB NONSTOP NRT XX3X567 UL
0503 CMB NONSTOP LHR 1234567 UL London flights are reducing 9 to 7 weekly
0553 CMB NONSTOP FRA XX3X5X7 UL
0557 CMB NONSTOP FRA XXXXX6X UL
0563 CMB NONSTOP CDG XX3X567 UL
0581 CMB NONSTOP FCO X2X4X6X UL
0828 CMB NONSTOP KMG 1X3X5XX UL
0866 CMB NONSTOP PVG 1X345XX UL
0868 CMB NONSTOP PEK 1X3X56X UL
0882 CMB BANGKOK CAN X23X5X7 UL
2915 CMB NONSTOP BAH 12X45X7 MJ
2932 CMB NONSTOP IXM 1X34X67 MJ
2947 CMB NONSTOP SHJ 1X34X67 MJ
2951 CMB NONSTOP DAC 12X4567 MJ Dhaka flights are increasing from 5 to 6 weekly
2963 CMB NONSTOP CGK 1234567 MJ
2965 CMB NONSTOP MES XX3XX6X MJ
2977 CMB NONSTOP SEZ X2X4X6X MJ
2985 CMB NONSTOP LAH 1X3X5XX MJ

more changes are expected..

CURRENT FLEET

SriLankan
A320 - 6 aircraft
A321 - 2
A332 - 7
A333 - 2
A343 - 1
A343X- 3

Mihin Lanka
A320 - 1 aircraft
A321 - 2

Following SriLankan aircraft are in AOG
4R-ADB - not in service
4R-ADC - not in service

So UL can compete against with other 4 - 5 Airlines...??? with accumulated debt of $1bn

about SEZ...it is cargo and not many airlines flies to SEZ. That's why that route is profitable (I think). Why EK is profitable...it is not because number of Emiratis living outside of UAE

Don't think number of expatriates/diaspora living means flying to that city profitable. it is just one of the factors used in the overall business case. Remember Olympic Airlines There are more Greeks living outside than in Greece and Melbourne is the second largest Greek city after Athens...and what happened to Olympic airways

BTW Melbourne is not biggest SL diaspora outside Colombo... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_diaspora

If UL really want to operate to MEL... unfortunately most suitable aircrafts would be B737 - 900ER/A319LR/B757-200W/A321LR

True, but Seychelles has minimal competition. If UL flies to Melbourne it will get decimated by SQ and the ME3 airlines (since most Sri Lankans fly based on price, not on patriotism to UL).

Before suggesting new routes we gotta look at the viability of the route based on its profitability. If the route can be made profitable, then only should UL fly it.

SriLankan Current Update as of February 13, 2015 as below: Credit to AirlineRoute.

Update at 0200GMT 13FEB15

SriLankan Airlines in the past 2 weeks continued to update planned operational schedule for Summer 2015 (effective 29MAR15) and Winter 2015 (effective 24OCT15) season. Latest adjustment, includes the schedule filing of planned service resumption to Australia, based on the week of 08FEB15′s OAG Schedules Analyser update.

Colombo – Melbourne UL proposes 4 weekly A330-300 service from 02NOV15. This filing is only listed in the OAG, therefore reservation is not available
UL601 CMB0100 – 1630MEL 333 x237
UL602 MEL1800 – 2300CMB 333 x237


UL last operated service to Australia in August 2001, with 3 weekly Colombo – Sydney service
UL678 CMB0500 – 1930SYD 340 136
UL679 SYD2050 – 0350+1CMB 340 136

Other latest changes that has been reflected in the GDS include:
Colombo – Beijing
eff 25OCT15 4 weekly service operates with A330-200/-300, instead of planned A330-300 only

Colombo – Chennai
eff 29MAR15 Increase from 21 to 26 weekly
UL125 CMB0055 – 0225MAA EQV x56
UL126 MAA0325 – 0450CMB EQV x56

Colombo – London Heathrow
eff 13APR15 Service reduce from 9 to 7 weekly, including Winter season on/after 25OCT15
UL503 CMB1300 – 2000LHR EQV D
UL504 LHR2130 – 1245+1CMB EQV D

Colombo – Rome
eff 27MAY15 All 3 weekly service operated by A330-200, replacing A330-200/A340-300. Previously the airline planned a number of A330-300 service from June 2015, however this is being revised to 16JUN15 and 23JUN15

Colombo – Shanghai Pu Dong
eff 25OCT15 Increase from 4 to 6 weekly, instead of 5 weekly. Service operates with a mix of A330-200/-300, instead of all -300
UL866 CMB1230 – 2140PVG 330 x146
UL866 CMB1320 – 2230PVG 333 14

UL867 PVG0020 – 0535CMB 330 x7

Latest schedule update sees revision of last Airbus A340-300 operating last service on following routes during Summer 2015 season. note these dates remain subject to change.
Colombo – Bangkok – Guangzhou 29JUL15
Colombo – Bangkok – Hong Kong 29AUG15
Colombo – Beijing 24JUN15
Colombo – Chennai 09OCT15
Colombo – Dammam 10OCT15
Colombo – Doha 25SEP15
Colombo – Dubai 30JUN15
Colombo – Jeddah 18SEP15
Colombo – Kuwait City 28AUG15
Colombo – London Heathrow 12APR15
Colombo – Male 24SEP15
Colombo – Riyadh 15OCT15
Colombo – Rome 26MAY15

Jetstar Asia & SriLankan Airlines Launch New Codeshare

SriLankan Airlines customers will soon enjoy greater access to cities throughout Southeast Asia and Australia as part of a new codeshare agreement with Jetstar Asia.

From April 5, SriLankan customers will be able to travel on codeshare services operated by Jetstar Asia on seven routes from Jetstar Asia's hub in Singapore, Jetstar said in a statement.

The cities of Darwin, Phnom Penh and Phuket will be new destinations to SriLankan's customers.

The other destinations to be included are Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Perth, a statement said.

SriLankan passengers will benefit from the convenience of a single ticket itinerary that includes SriLankan's baggage allowance.

Passengers will enjoy a seamless transfer at Singapore's Changi airport, with baggage being through checked and onward boarding passes being received at the initial departure point.

Jetstar Asia chief executive officer Barathan Pasupathi said that SriLankan Airlines is one of the largest South Asian carriers and the expanded cooperation will provide passengers attractive itineraries as well as enhance Jetstar's regional footprint, said Jetstar Asia chief executive officer Barathan Pasupathi.

"SriLankan Airlines' customers will have access to Jetstar Asia's extensive network in Southeast Asia and Australia, while transferring enjoying Singapore Changi's world-class facilities" said Pasupathi.

Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group's Senior Vice President of Market Development, said, "Changi Airport welcomes this development between SriLankan Airlines and Jetstar Asia as not only would it promote greater people flow between South Asia and Southeast Asia/Australia via Changi, but also grow both airlines' businesses in Singapore".

SriLankan Airlines currently operates up to three daily services to Singapore.

Good news although they should codeshare to other destinations such as Manila or Taipei rather than Bangkok and KL which are already served by UL metal.

BTW if anyone is interested have a look at todays Sunday Times, Business Times section. The actual article links are currently down though.

Also whatever happened to that Jetstar SL project that was rumoured a few years back? Guessing it might have been a fake?

Total fake.... Who and how did this rumour spread?

Airbus A319 to enter for Mihin Lanka service from March 2015 according to their reservation system. Any body know the details of the aircraft? brand new/second hand ? MSN?

President travelling to India

Does anyone know if the President took a regular, scheduled flight to India? If so assuming this would have to be one of the 320s, unlike MR's favourite ADF.

It would be a good example of the good governannce he has promised to introduce if he did so.

Yes he did

He flew by regular passenger flight UL 195 with a small delegation