8D lists RUH, SIN & KUL as their upcoming routes. What's your thought on this? But 8D needs suitable aircraft to fly nonstop to RUH otherwise they need stopover may be in MCT.

MSN 1060 is not active since 3-Sep after completing the 4hr test flight. Any idea if the UL pilots did the test flight for ALT on the 3-Sep? I heard delivery is soon but I am still unaware of the delivery date. ALT likely to be delivered in white, but if UL wants ALT to be delivered with UL-livery, then Tarmac Aerosave need to send the aircraft to IASC in Ireland for paintwork. Does anyone know if ALT going to be delivered in UL interiors and seat configs?

I wonder why ABT was delivered in white. Any chances ALT also delivered in white and both ABT and ALT gets oneworld livery in CMB. Please confirm?

Edit : ABS was delivered in white and may get OW livery not ABT. Sorry for the typo. Thanks MAW2000.

Thanks for the info Banu, but I don't think ALT will be getting the UL-livery anytime soon, since its close to the middle of September and painting an aircraft takes around 2 weeks (estimate), UL probably wants to avoid delays so its likely she wont be having a livery when she lands at CMB and she'll probably be put into service as soon as she arrives, same as 4R-ABS and will possibly get her livery at a later date. Someone told me that UL is waiting on ALT to be delivered so UL could paint UL and ABS together? (Someone please confirm?)

UL will probably be retrofitting them with UL interiors and seat configs, or UL would instead be keeping the original interiors and seat configs like 4R-ABS and 4R-ABT, but i'm not sure if it is gonna apply to widebodies, but hopefully UL will be retrofitting them. (Please someone correct me if im wrong)

Given the global supply chain issues with seats, and the need to get these aircraft in service as soon as possible, it seems unlikely that the interiors will be retrofitted. At the most it will be UL upholstery over the existing seats? If ALT has its original Thai Airways layout, especially in Business Class, it won't be competitive on long-haul routes against the likes of QR and EK - no direct aisle access and angled lie-flat seats in J class.

Typical Nationalised airline story. They will take their time to get things done while foreign airlines keep taking our market share away. I hope they dont send these aircraft on LH routes to NRT, MEL,SYD,LHR,CDG,FRA. the social media influencers will have a banger of a day further damaging UL reputation.

Ex. TG seats are fine for the time being on regional routes. I have done them a few times and it was good for the uptown 5 hrs flights.

Are we due for more A320??? remember the tender was for 5 A/C???

I believe those routes NRT,MEL,SYD,LHR,CDG,FRA will be served by our current a330s we have in the fleet and then routes like SIN,BKK,MLE and RUH will be served by the upcoming a330-300s from Thai.

Yes, I agree with what you are saying, UL needs to step up their game in order to take back the market share taken by Emirates and Qatar airways, UL has to be competitive in this sector as it is picking up pace (Middle east and India), UL cannot miss this opportunity. UL also has to transition away from the a330 (ceos) in the next 10 years, not saying its bad that UL is still using a330s but im saying that the a330s (ceos) are becoming older and dated as time goes on (A330 ceo production has already stopped) and UL must renew their fleet (ie. A330-900s or A350-900) But given the airplane shortage I don't think this will be happening any time soon.

UL has to step up their game. The only thing that is keeping them afloat from bad reviews is the hospitality of the crew, they cannot rely on that, they have to work on the hard product as well. but some people also do prefer the soft product. They have to be competitive as the tourism industry relies on UL.

As far as i am aware, I believe that UL is due for more a320s, not sure but I heard someone talking about UL being due for more a320s. Will get back to you if I find more info about the topic.

Thanks!!

Getting away from fleet planning any ideas about future codeshare partners in planning?? not the interline with Flydubai. Do we have plans to work with BA/ AA and CX??? Being in Oneworld and not working with these airlines does not make sense. BA/AA and CX codes on UL flights will be icing on the cake.

UL does codeshare with AA to Miami, LA, Dallas, NY and Chicago from their European destinations. But I agree that more code shares - even with non OneWorld partners like Delta would be beneficial for UL.
UL also needs to have a consistent product across its long haul and short haul fleets. A recent flight review on YouTube showed an A320 (4R-MRE) where the interior is literally falling apart. Even if the reviewer was being sensationalist, it was clear that the whole cabin was in bad condition and the seat covers were dirty and stained,. There's not much an outstanding crew can do to offset a hard product like that. Hopefully MRE will leave the fleet soon.

Hi all, I work at Teruel airport (Spain) where future ALT is. Banu contacted me for update the situation of MSN 1060. Still the same all-white livery and VP-CRQ reg. Just for info, Teruel airport DO HAVE painting facilities, but as you said previously, if UL wants ALT for mid-September, paint the aircraft will delay delivery, as yesterday (Sept 12th) an Air France B773 entered in the paint hangar and will take 7-8 days minimum.

I attach you here a picture of MSN 1060 actual situation.​

Hi all, I work at Teruel airport (Spain) where future ALT is. Banu contacted me for update the situation of MSN 1060. Still the same all-white livery and VP-CRQ reg. Just for info, Teruel airport DO HAVE painting facilities, but as you said previously, if UL wants ALT for mid-September, paint the aircraft will delay delivery, as yesterday (Sept 12th) an Air France B773 entered in the paint hangar and will take 7-8 days minimum.

I attach you here a picture of MSN 1060 actual situation.​

4R-ALR still inactive

is 4R-ALR doing engine ground testing?

Agreed 100%

Also to add a few more airlines to the list, I honestly missed airlines such as Oman Air, Kuwait Airways & Saudia who have stopped ops to CMB on my recent trip to Saudi Arabia having returned a couple of days ago

Currently UL do not serve JED which is a huge inconvenience specially for Umrah pax. I believe they benefited quite a bit on this sector with pilgrims connecting form CGK, MAA, TRZ and COK when they did operate. Puzzles me why they only serve DMM and RUH now

UL does not seem to care of the pilgrim traffic and with Riyadh Air launching soon, they’d definitely be in on the demand from CMB

In terms of the limited options to connect to JED, Tickets too are horribly expensive - we few FlyDubai as we had a very limited handful of options available (fares kept increasing day by day) FZ’s hard product is highly inconsistent with a mix of Max 8’s and 738’s being flown to and from DXB

8D unfortunately does not have the capacity to serve JED however I did see it somewhere that JED, DMK and KUL were their “focus-destinations” which they’d probably launch once they receive their wide-bodies in the near future

As of now the only glimmer of hope in the Sri Lankan Aviation market right now is FitsAir (they are still in their early stages of growth) - what they have archived to date is noteworthy and with Perter Hill at the helm, they would definitely be a force to recon with in the future