Announcement

**Serendib** · 09-10-2024, 07:48 AM

When are they going to announce CMB?

Riyadh Air will reveal its route network in early 2025. Douglas revealed plans for a narrowbody aircraft order of comparable size, which he expects to announce soon. This move will enable Riyadh Air to commence narrowbody operations within a year of its initial launch. Furthermore, airline has initiated an order campaign for larger widebody aircraft. The CEO acknowledged the persistent challenge of delivery delays, noting that Riyadh Air has already revised its plans three times. Despite these obstacles, the airline maintains ambitious growth targets, aiming to serve 100 destinations within five years of operations. Potential routes : Cairo, Mumbai, Istanbul, London, New York, Dubai, Islamabad.

https://simpleflying.com/riyadh-air-routes-early-2025-aoc-end-of-2024/#potential-routes

**WizzWaveSien** · 09-10-2024, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

LED-CMB operated by Azur Air B763
Nov : 10,20
Dec : 01,11,22
Jan : 02,12,22
Feb : 02,12,23
Mar : 05,16,26

OVB-HRI operated by Redwings B772
Oct : 30
Nov : 10,20,
Dec : 01,11,22
Jan : 01,12,22
Feb : 02,12,23
Mar : 05,16,26

KUF-HRI operated by Redwings B772
Oct : 29
Nov : 30
Dec : 10
Jan : 11,21
Feb : 22
Mar : 04,15,25

SVX-HRI operated by Redwings B772
Nov : 03,13,24
Dec : 15,25
Jan : 05,15,26
Feb : 05,16
Mar : 09

I unable to find the flight info for MRV-HRI & ZIA-HRI, KJA-CMB, OVB-CMB, VKO-CMB.
Do you know which airline operated seasonal flights to HRI and CMB last year?

AZUR air operated KJA-CMB, OVB-CMB and VKO-CMB. Redwings probably operated MRV and ZIA flights to HRI.

Very strange that you cant find MRV and ZIA flights to HRI, Maybe they went back on their plan to launch flights from there?

Will update with more info. Thanks

**JCN** · 10-10-2024, 07:16 AM

That A332 (VP-BNX) is going to be delivered to SriLankan Airlines in coming months. Photo taken at Chateauroux airport (France)

**Serendib** · 10-10-2024, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by Haleef View Post

No, but ABL and MRE will be leaving back to their respective lessors next year.

4R-ABN is active but 4R-ABL?

Any changes to CEO role?

New Board of Directors for SriLankan Airlines

A new Board of Directors has also been appointed for SriLankan Airlines with Sarath Ganegoda as the Chairman.

Young business leader Sarath Ganegoda has been appointed the new Chairman of SriLankan Airlines.

A new Board of Directors has been appointed as well.

Ganegoda replaces business leader Ashok Pathirage who served as Chairman of the national carrier since December 2019.

Ganegoda serves as an Executive Director of the Hayleys PLC Board following his appointment into the Group Management Committee in July 2007 and the Board in September 2009.

SriLankan Airlines’ new Board of Directors:

1. Mr Sarath Ganegoda (Chairman)

2. Mr Buddhika Hewawasam

3. Mr Sugath Rajapakse

4. Mr Eranga Rohan Peiris Goonetilleke

5. ⁠Mr D. Arandara

6. ⁠Mr Ananda Athukorale

7. ⁠Mr Lakmal Ratnayake

8. ⁠Mr Niranjan Arulpragasam

Sarath Ganegoda new Chairman at SriLankan Airlines | Daily FT

https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Sarath-Ganegoda-new-Chairman-at-SriLankan-Airlines/44-767790

Young business leader Sarath Ganegoda has been appointed the new Chairman of SriLankan Airlines. ..

**banuthev** · 10-10-2024, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by SHOCKWAVE View Post

4r alt - 1060, alu - 1037 & alv - 1261 (tbn)

Originally posted by JCN View Post

That A332 (VP-BNX) is going to be delivered to SriLankan Airlines in coming months. Photo taken at Chateauroux airport (France)

Thanks for photo and update !
I heard the ex-Virgin A333s are also rumored to join SriLankan Airlines. Can anyone confirm?

**banuthev** · 10-10-2024, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by WizzWaveSien View Post

SV isnt interested to resume flights back to CMB because of the domination of other gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar and Etihad. Most people travelling to RUH stop by in DXB, DOH and AUH or fly direct with Sri Lankan, So SV doesn't currently have the interest to operate back to CMB, its a shame considering SV used to dominate M.E travel back in the days from CMB

KU also hasn't resumed flights to CMB, and I think J9 is substituting for that by increasing frequencies. Hopefully they will come back soon to SL.

WY too excited CMB from March, hopefully they return as well.

Originally posted by Aaqib View Post

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

According to CAA LK, regulated capacity between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka is 14 + Dammam Open Skies.
Since UL is currently flying 7 weekly to RUH and going to fly 4 weekly to JED. So already UL is using most of the regulated capacity of 11 flights so there is not much regulated capacity left for SV or RX use/expand into CMB. Please correct me if i am wrong? Didn't Sri Lanka expand the Air Service Agreement with Saudi Arabia?

Country : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Entry into force : 8-Jun-91
Regulated Capacity : 14, Dammam Open Skies
Last Update 10th August 2020

https://caa.lk/images/2020/Web_Basa_Update_10Aug2020.pdf

**SKYBUCK729** · 10-10-2024, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by SHOCKWAVE View Post

4r alt - 1060, alu - 1037 & alv - 1261 (tbn)

ALU
Means Ash in Sinhala

**WizzWaveSien** · 10-10-2024, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by JCN View Post

That A332 (VP-BNX) is going to be delivered to SriLankan Airlines in coming months. Photo taken at Chateauroux airport (France)

Will these new A332s be featuring lie flat beds like their A333 counterparts? I've heard that they are going to be having a config similar to that of current A333s, can someone confirm?

**WizzWaveSien** · 10-10-2024, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

Thanks for photo and update !
I heard the ex-Virgin A333s are also rumored to join SriLankan Airlines. Can anyone confirm?

Unlikely to happen im afraid, some retired Virgin A333's are going to Thai Airways and they are due to enter service. and I believe that all A330-300 (leased) in virgins fleet are leased from CDB aviation, so unlikely that UL will be picking them up since UL is only going to lease from ORIX and Aergo Capital.

Someone correct me if im wrong, thanks.

**Aaqib** · 11-10-2024, 04:04 AM

Originally posted by banuthev View Post

According to CAA LK, regulated capacity between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka is 14 + Dammam Open Skies.
Since UL is currently flying 7 weekly to RUH and going to fly 4 weekly to JED. So already UL is using most of the regulated capacity of 11 flights so there is not much regulated capacity left for SV or RX use/expand into CMB. Please correct me if i am wrong? Didn't Sri Lanka expand the Air Service Agreement with Saudi Arabia?

Country : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Entry into force : 8-Jun-91
Regulated Capacity : 14, Dammam Open Skies
Last Update 10th August 2020

https://caa.lk/images/2020/Web_Basa_Update_10Aug2020.pdf

Interesting

Any idea on the load factor to/from CMB and DMM?
Would be best if SV recommence ops to JED - even via. MLE would be appropriate as they did back in 2022

**Serendib** · 11-10-2024, 05:55 AM

UL confirms that UL 265 from Colombo to Riyadh safely returned to Colombo as a precautionary measure after encountering a technical issue mid-flight evening 10 October 2024. any idea which aircraft? how many passengers were on board?

**leyland** · 11-10-2024, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

UL confirms that UL 265 from Colombo to Riyadh safely returned to Colombo as a precautionary measure after encountering a technical issue mid-flight evening 10 October 2024. any idea which aircraft? how many passengers were on board?

As per FR24, aircraft was 4R-ALP

**WizzWaveSien** · 11-10-2024, 12:56 PM

Seems like Austrian Airlines will begin service to MLE from 17th OCT onwards onboard 777s (2 weekly), very sad that they arent stopping over at CMB, Last time Austrian operated was awhile ago, would love to see them back at CMB.

Any updates on other European carriers? Air France? they served CMB via MLE during W22, any chance of them returning?

Thanks.

EDIT : Don't know if this is true but the last two flights from IKA to CMB on Iran Air Tour has been cancelled, has Iran Air Tour already stopped flights from CMB? Please someone confirm. Thank you.

**WizzWaveSien** · 11-10-2024, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by Serendib View Post

UL confirms that UL 265 from Colombo to Riyadh safely returned to Colombo as a precautionary measure after encountering a technical issue mid-flight evening 10 October 2024. any idea which aircraft? how many passengers were on board?

UL deployed 4R-ALO as a replacement aircraft for UL 265, took off today at 7:12 AM from CMB to RUH. Will be returning to CMB this evening..

**Serendib** · 12-10-2024, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by WizzWaveSien View Post

UL deployed 4R-ALO as a replacement aircraft for UL 265, took off today at 7:12 AM from CMB to RUH. Will be returning to CMB this evening..

Thanks, is the 4R-ALP back in the air?

As per hirunews, only 215 passengers on this flight.

SriLankan Airlines announced that Flight UL 265 from Colombo to Riyadh safely returned to Colombo as a precautionary measure after experiencing a technical issue mid-flight. The aircraft landed without incident at approximately 19:00 Sri Lanka time on October 10, 2024. All 215 passengers were provided hotel accommodation and rebooked on the next available flight. The airline emphasized that the safety and well-being of passengers remain their top priority. The flight, which departed from Katunayake Airport, landed after 1 hour and 35 minutes due to the technical fault.

SriLankan Airlines flight safely returns to Colombo as a precautionary measure

https://www.hirunews.lk/english/384595/srilankan-airlines-flight-safely-returns-to-colombo-as-a-precautionary-measure

SriLankan Airlines flight safely returns to Colombo as a precautionary measure. Most visited website in Sri Lanka.

Announcement

Sri Lanka Aviation

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment