4R-ABN and 4R-ALL are inactive, anyone knows why?

Recorrecting, 4R-EXR will join with Air Arabia from 24th May on wet lease agreement with complete engineering, ground, tech and cabin crew.

Delivery should be on 15th Oct. 2024, tentatively.

ABN - undergoing a maintenance check.
ALL - undergoing C check.
ALT - expect her arrival mid Oct .

After completing the wet-lease agrreement with Air Arabia, 4R-EXR was ferried from SHJ to DXB as 8D7 on the 26-Sep and operated from DXB to CMB as revenue flight 8D822 on the 27-Sep. Such a sensible decision to bring back both the aircraft & crew in CMB with revenue flight. Good job 8D and Mr. Peter Hill ! I see 4R-EXR is flying 8D flights since 29-Sep.

Incorrect,
Mr Hill likes if EXR is flying for G9 until November. But it didnt happen.
All three aircrafts will get similar cabin interior and brandnew seats (probably the seat manufacturer will be UK based Mirus) by mid 2025.
CMB MLE CMB flights frequency will be increased from November 2024.
currently 8D is flying to MLE twice on somedays. Flight numbers will be 8D811/2, 8D813/4, 8D815/6.
8D is targeting a new routes, probably KUL or IXM.
No plans for new aircrafts since current fleet utilization is lower.

Hey everyone!!
I’ve created a crash course covering airlines expanding their services to SL, including aircraft deployment on routes to CMB and more.

2024

Indigo to deploy A321NEO from BLR TO CMB, replacing A320NEO, flights will be daily from OCT 1st (Yesterday)
Indigo to begin 3rd daily service from MAA TO CMB, flights will be operated using A320 and A320NEO
Indigo to increase flights from BOM to CMB from 3 weekly to 6 weekly, end of OCT 24
Spicejet to resume MAA-CMB flights from OCT 27th, Daily 737

Air China to operate daily flights from TFU to CMB starting from October 27th, A320 and A320NEO (depending on days) will be deployed on this route
​China Eastern to increase CMB-MLE from 2 weekly to 3 weekly.
China Eastern to continue KMG-CMB flights after increasing it from 2 weekly to daily, 737 will be deployed.

Aeroflot to deploy 777-300ERs from OCT 3rd on SVO-CMB, will increase to 4 weekly from the end of OCT 24
Redwings to begin 777-200 flights from MRV (NOV 2 onwards twice weekly) to HRI
Redwings to also begin 777-200 flights from KUF (OCT 29 onwards, flights will be bi-weekly) to HRI
Redwings to begin flights from TJM (No schedule yet, twice weekly) to HRI
(Thanks Serendib and Banu for the info)

Edelweiss to resume ZRH-CMB from October 31st (one weekly) A340 will be deployed. (Outbound flight will have a stopover in MLE before continuing back to ZRH), Flights will continue until May 2025.

Jetstar Asia to resume SIN-CMB flights from NOV 21st. A320 will be deployed.(five weekly)

2025

Emirates to begin 5th daily service from DXB, (January 2nd onwards), A350 will be deployed

Cathay Pacific to operate 4 weekly flights from 2nd of January 2025 to 1st of March 2025. Frequency will be increased from 4 weekly to 5 weekly starting from 2nd of March to 30th of March. A330 will be deployed.


Please correct me if I missed anything. Thanks

Few more upcoming charter flights to Sri Lanka

Flyone flights between Chisinau and HRI - 23-Oct-24 to 28-Mar-25

Skyup flights between Riga and HRI - 20-Oct-24 to 27-Mar-25

Skyup flights between Talinn and HRI - 18-Oct-24 to 26-Mar-25

Skyup flights between Villinius and HRI from 05-Nov-24 to 29-Mar-25

Skyup flights between Warsaw and HRI from 16-Dec-24 to 31-Mar-25

Edit : Added Warsaw​

Thank you for the info Banu, As far as I am aware Flyone and Skyup both operate narrowbodies right? ie, 737 and a320? any idea of the frequency?

These flights are operating as charter on the selected dates and please find the date of operations below. Skyup is definately flying onboard B737 but notsure about Flyone. Do we know which aircraft that Flyone used last time when flying to HRI? Any idea about where these flight will do tech stop?

Chisinau operated by Flyone
Oct : 23
Nov : 2, 12, 22
Dec : 3, 14, 25
Jan : 4, 14, 24
Feb : 4, 14, 25
Mar : 7, 18, 28

Talinnn operated by Skyup
Oct : 18, 29
Nov : 8, 20, 30,
Dec : 11, 21
Jan : 1, 11, 22
Feb : 1, 12, 22
Mar : 5, 15, 26

Riga operated by Skyup
Oct : 20, 31
Nov : 10, 21
Dec : 1, 12, 22
Jan : 2, 12, 23
Feb : 2, 13, 23
Mar : 6, 16, 27

Villinius operated by Skyup
Nov : 5, 16, 27
Dec : 7, 18, 26, 29
Jan : 5, 8, 15, 18, 25, 29
Feb : 5, 8, 15, 19, 26
Mar : 1, 8, 12, 19, 22, 29

Warsaw operated by Skyup
Dec - 16,27
Jan - 6, 16, 27
Feb - 6, 17, 27
Mar - 10, 20, 31​

Edit : Added Warsaw​

Do you have any update on Air Astana & LOT flights to Colombo?

Unfortunately I have no information about UK or European routes at all, ran through every airline website, checking dates and all and still there are no flights to CMB, However Im pretty sure TUI will be scheduling a charter service from BHX, MAN and LGW this winter but Im very uncertain about it. VS and BA will most likely be sticking to MLE and not fly to CMB unfortunately, seems like it, but hopefully that will change soon.

Heard a rumor of LOT resuming flights to CMB from WAW and PRG this winter from a fellow agveek in Warsaw, but im not really sure and he told me that plans were still not finalized yet. Will get back to you with more info.

When Fitsair are expecting to start the cabin refurbishment? Do we know the lease expiry for Fitsair A320 fleet?

Some details of Fitsair A320 fleet. Please correct me if the details are incorrect. Thanks.
4R-EXQ - MSN 3547 - C8+Y156 - Lessor Aercap - Age 16.3 Years - Delivered to CMB in Mar 2021 as OE-IOM
4R-EXS - MSN 4552 - C8+Y156 - Lessor DVB Bank - Age 13.8 Years - Delivered to CMB in Mar 2022
4R-EXR - MSN 3183 - - C8+Y156 - Lessor Wings of Lebenon - Age 17.3 Years - Delivered to CMB in May 2022 as SU-BQB

Recorrecting,
4R-EXS - MSN 4552 - Y180 - Lessor DVB Bank with a payload restriction.
Other two are correct.
Cabin refurbishment will be started by middle of next year. ( can be changed)
However the Seat supplier is Mirus Aircraft seating. Already checked samples.

No information yet, Will update, but heard they will be coming back to CMB this winter. Just rumors as of now but will update when I have more information.

Seems like during the end of OCT SL will be picking up traffic. Any update on AZUR AIR and Rossiya?
Thanks.