LHR Winter service by UL

UL has commenced their weekend winter service to LHR. ( UL 505/506)

Thats what the speculation at the moment.. I heard that they may not go with A350s and will go with either 320 or 321s. Just a gossip at this stage.

Got some insider news that Qatar airways going to take over management of srilankan Airlines and according to news source it's almost fixed and confirmed. Let's keep fingers crossed.

Please translate this news in English. Thanks.

Exactly - nobody is asking why these flights are losing money.


Any talk of privatisation is just that - talk.

With the financial liabilities (including those still due) it is impossible for UL to ever make money.

Who wants all the political appointees, jokers and incompetent clowns that infest this Airline like a cancer? Nobody.

I won't even start on the toxic UL culture!

Hard to believe that Qatar wants any part of this. I see zero benefit for Qatar - makes no sense imho.

They'd be smarter to wait for the inevitable bankruptcy then set up their own Airline.

Mr. Cooray said the THASL has urged the national carrier that this was not the time to withdraw from Europe. “What we are told being discussed is that the airline may retain Frankfurt. But we urge that both Paris and Frankfurt are retained.”He said Europeans are finding it difficult to travel to Islamic countries due to political unrest. Places like Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Eqypt are popular summer destinations frequented by millions of Germans and French who now find it more and uncomfortable to visit these locations.

does anyone know why UL a320 4r-abo as per flightradar24 has only done cmb-kmg on the 30th Dec and has been inactive since....did it even fly back to cmb??

It is a fact that SriLankan (UL) should not pull out of European destinations at this point. Among the reasons UL doesn't get sufficient customers at present is, it's lack of competitiveness, from the passengers' point of view. UL has to improve it's standards on cabin services/products. Introduction of new A330-300s is a good decision towards gaining back it's past popularity with customers. During the years of recent past, UL was more seen as a competing airline with regional low cost carriers than as a competitor at full fledged carrier market, even though it is one of them.

According to Flightstats, UL829 from KMG was cancelled on the 31/Dec for some unknown reasons. I could also notice UL's LHR flights have been delayed since 1-Jan. 4R-ALQ is the only work-horse for UL503/4 for last three days. @Haleef - Do you know why? 4R-ALG & 4R-ADE are undergoing lease-return checks. Our new 4R-ALR undergoing pre-flight checks, which will be start flying the UL revenue flights from coming weekend.

4R-ALQ A330-343 (1687) Flight Timings for last 3 days,

01-JAN - CMB-LHR - 12:55 - 19:26 - UL503 - LHR-CMB - 20:58 - 12:33 - UL504
02-JAN - CMB-LHR - 13:47 - 20:11 - UL503 - LHR-CMB - 21:38 - 12:59 - UL504
03-JAN - CMB-LHR - 14:18 - 20:54 - UL503 - LHR-CMB - 22:15 - 14:15 - UL504

Sri Lanka to partner with key airlines to tap tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism today said it hopes to enter into strategic partnerships with new and existing Airlines connecting the regions capitalising on the “Open Sky” policy of the government of Sri Lanka.

“It is planned to develop strategic partnerships with all existing key airlines and work with new airlines like Austrian Air and Malindo Air and Air China who will have new operations to Sri Lanka. The tourism strategy has allocated budgets for working with airlines and strategic partnerships along with attracting charter flights,” Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement.

Noting that positioning Sri Lanka as a venue for international and domestic events will be a key component of the 2016 marketing strategy, Sri Lanka Tourism said it hoped to stage internationally acclaimed tourism related events in Sri Lanka during next year such as Arugam Bay Pro- Surf, Kiteathelon,Adventure Tourism events etc. In the meantime more than 25 cultural /religious events and arts and entertainment events that has direct impact for tourism development will be conducted by Sri Lanka Tourism . The activities will be strengthened by increased monetary contribution in year 2016.

“The new tourism strategic marketing plan of 2016 will focus on the long term result oriented approach to develop tourism industry in Sri Lanka than serving short term goals.Supported by the strong presence of the newly appointed Tourism Advisory Committee, Prime Minister, Board of Directors ,Chairman, Hon.Tourism Minister & Deputy Minister and the Ministry Secretary, it is aimed at laying the foundation for a far sighted tourism development strategy based on the industry inputs garnered from decades of experience , analysing research findings and country’s competitive position while being attuned to constant challenges faced by soci-political and cultural environment in the world tourism landscape,” the release added.

A350-900 MSN60 Sri Lankan #3

beginn from the production

A350 part MSN60 Sri Lankan #3 by XFW-Spotter, auf Flickr

Thank you so much for sharing the picture of MSN 60 (3RD A359 for UL). When did you take this pic? Have the airframes for 52 &55 already been sent to TLS from XFW for final assembly? UL should be taking delivery of couple of A359 (Msn 52 & 55 in mid 2016 and Msn 60 in late 2016.

Thanks XFW Spotter ! Welcome to our forum ! Happy new year to you !

Wow, good news!

Happy to see photographs XFW-Spotter!! Fingers crossed till the delivery date of the UL #1 A350XWB 10th Airline of the world to take delivery of Airbus A350XWB.