seems like A333 4R-ALR is AOG in NRT since 18 July - anyone in here knows why?

SriLankan to get new airbuses as per five-year strategic business plan

COLOMBO (News 1st) – SriLankan Airlines is converting an order for four Airbus A350-900s to Airbus A330-900s as a part of the airline’s new five-year Strategic Business Plan.

In addition to the conversion, the national carrier of Sri Lanka also plans to expand its fleet with the new narrowbody and widebody planes.

The Chief Executive Vipula Gunatilleka told Air Transport World, “Our fleet would grow from current twenty-seven to thirty-four and we would end up by 2023-2024 with nineteen widebody and fifteen narrowbody aircraft,”

The flag carrier currently operates five Airbus A320-200s, two Airbus A320neos, two Airbus A321-200s, four Airbus A321neos, seven Airbus A330-200s and seven Airbus A330-300s.

SriLankan first signed a Memorandum of Understanding for four Airbus A350-900s in 2013 and then increased the number of ordered aircraft to eight. However, the company later dropped half of the order.

The Oneworld member company aims to transform itself into a financially viable airline group with a high presence on international routes by extending codeshare partnerships with the other Oneworld member airlines. The airline wants to position itself as a catalyst for the development of Sri Lanka’s tourism.

Gunatilleka explained the focus of the new Strategic Business Plan as to develop a route network that matches customer demand and which will provide new market opportunities at the same time, including new destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East, and Australia.

The airline initially considers launching new routes from Colombo to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Ho Chi Minh City, Frankfurt International, Paris CDG, Sydney Kingsford Smith, and Kathmandu, while making Sri Lanka an intercontinental strategic hub for air travel and freighter operations in the Asia-Africa-Middle East region.

Aren't we tired of hearing this, UL will always dream as usual and the country would not see any significant growth in this field. Ordering new aircrafts are alright on a replacement basis for the aging aircraft's such as the A330-200 and a few A320 which feels were dated and tired but on a growth we can be ascertain that it is talk only.

And I remember even in the recent past that UL operated routes such as CDG and FRA and stopped them claiming that they were not profitable. Why are they considering re flying these routes when already superior airlines such as EK,EY,QR,WY,KU,TK,KL have bloated these routes and are offering competitive rates with unmatched service quality, one advantage i find is that UL will be able to provide a direct flight which saves time. I find the fares offered by foreign airlines much more attractive and even prestigious airlines such as KLM operating on them are a good choice when compared to UL.

And finally no point of purchasing new aircraft if they are not being flown or if they are torn apart for parts like 4R-ALS. It has been inactive for months and saw it last week at BIA in the maintenance hanger still painted in white but didn't see a missing engine though, wonder why it is not flying maybe the high dense config is the issue. But at least if they are not utilizing the aircraft why dont they try and lease it to someone else although the aircraft does not belong to UL in the first place.

Though this doesn't relate to this article, i must say that BIA is in a really poor state now, it is reflecting its age pretty badly and arriving at SL now feels like a Monday morning, there isn't anything fascinating about the airport anymore. the GoSL should refurbish or develop the airport so that the passengers can atleast come by a foreign airline and disembark in some comfort and splendour because UL isnt performing well and arriving at BIA now is like travel back in time, I have been travelling for the past 20 years and it still feels the same. No matter what it is the tax-payer who has to ultimately suffer although ironically it is from the tax-payers money the airline operates.

UL have been using 4R-ALS on CMB-JED route once in a while.

I thought Fitsair have 70 seater ATR?

Why 4R-ALS less utilised? Will it get Srilankan livery?

Srilankan CEO said Jet Airways exit has helped us. Do you think UL can exploit Jet Airways exit?

That information is incorrect. FitsAir does have an ATR72-600, and can carry more than "14 people" onboard.

https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/07/22/...business-plan/[/QUOTE]

Another fantasy story by yet another Political appointee whose real job is to enable the Theft/Fraud/Corruption/Nepotism/Incompetence/Treason/Racketeering that represents daily operations at SriLankan.

Notice how he doesn't give any facts - just vague generalisations.

He also doesn't explain how he intends to pay for all of this.

Here's the harsh reality.

Debts/losses and forward liabilities are at least U$ 3 Billion in total.

Aircraft orders are just a way for Corrupt Politicians and their Cronies to pocket millions in commissions while saddling the people of Sri Lanka with Billions in debt.

A one year investigation has just wrapped up. People have been named and Criminal acts have been reported on. Not one person has been charged and the report has not been made public.

I don't expect that to change.

@mach3

It's all very simple - the country and the Airline are both bankrupt. There is no money for anything - it's all been spent or stolen.

Singapore Airlines plans A359 service to Colombo effec 1 Oct 19.

Means soon i am flying on 359...
thanks for the good news

Is this started recently? i was not aware of this direct connection by UL

any reason why UL connecting directly NRT-MLE? shouldn't they touch down operation like any other air lines??

Yes, recently commenced, last week.

Here's how they used to operate NRT - MLE....

I didn't normally do these flights and was very surprised to see a 9+30 sector flown the entire way at FL320.

Upon entering all data in the aircraft Flight Management system the optimum altitude was FL340. We flew the entire trip at Optimum altitudes as computed by the Flight Management system (FL340/Fl360/FL380 and finally FL400). We saved 4400kg of fuel - so much that there was no need to refuel in MLE.

I asked the First Officer what others would have done and he said they would have flown at FL320 as per the flightplan.

A report was filed and an investigation found that the flightplan was generated using an incorrect code that limited the altitude to FL320. Never did hear how long this had been going on and they never got back to me with a $ value on how much money I saved them.

I was sometimes able to save as much as 1100 kg of fuel on a London flight - by not blindly following the flightplan.

I doubt very much had changed.

Azur Air schedules new long-haul service from St. Petersburg from late-Oct 2019

Azur Air in winter 2019/20 season plans to introduce 2 long-haul routes from St. Petersburg, on board Boeing 767 aircraft. Planned new routes include the following.

St. Petersburg – Colombo eff 30OCT19 Every 10-11 days
ZF7849 LED2300 – 1055+1CMB 76W
ZF7850 CMB1300 – 2045LED 76W