No worries bro. Cathay pacific to boost the B747 Freighter service to CMB effec S16.

Present two weekly flights to be increased to three weekly with an introduction of nonstop service from HKG to CMB.

A lesson on how to run a airline. Qantas has turned the airline around from the biggest annual loss to the biggest profit in just two years; one can only hope in UL

SriLankan Airlines, looking for ways to cut huge losses and debt accumulated during the last regime, this week decided to continue flying to key European destinations, barring Rome, reversing earlier plans to discontinue or reduce these flights. The move drew welcome relief from all sections of the travel industry. Separately the airline, according to its main top official, was in serious discussions with lessors on how and whether it was possible to exit from a contract to purchase four Airbus 350s.

Ajit Dias, chairman of the national carrier, told the Business Times that the government has decided not to proceed with the purchase order. When asked whether this means the airline won’t be buying the four aircraft, he said: “It all depends on the negotiations our team is having with lessors since contracts have already been signed and to ascertain what needs to be done (to exit),” he said. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament last week that though a deposit has not been paid for any Airbus 350, any default means a penalty payment of US$12 million.

With reference to uncertainty over flights to the European sector, the airline had been considering pulling out of Europe barring the UK but had been under pressure from the tourism industry not to do so. Other than London, most European sectors were not bringing the required returns, other sources at the national airline said. According to this week’s, long-awaited decision, the airline is discontinuing flights to Rome from May but will continue flying to London, Paris and Frankfurt, the latter of which would have a fifth weekly flight added from July.

Mr. Dias said the new travel frequencies have been prepared with the existing fleet. “We have not accounted for any new Airbus 350s (in this computation),” he said. He denied reports that the airline was in discussions with others on a possible management contract, similar to the earlier one with Emirates but noted that the airline has been talking to other airlines on code sharing arrangements (to cover sectors that the airline doesn’t fly to). ”We are delighted,” said Hiran Cooray, President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) when asked to comment on the route changes.

“This is a very positive move and shows the Government is listening to the industry. They have listened to our pleas.” Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) President Devindre Seneratne said they were pleased that Frankfurt has been consolidated with an extra flight too and Paris will continue to operate as usual. ”The French market has become one of the most important markets and grown to be one of the most wanted markets for Sri Lanka Tourism especially when Sri Lanka is considered one of the safer and better destinations to travel,” he said.

Also welcoming the move, S. Paramanathan, Managing Director of Atlas Lanka Travels, said arrivals were rising even though it’s the off season and hence this was not the best time to reduce flights to Europe. According to the airline’s 2014/15 annual report, in order to replace the wide-body fleet, in June 2013, the company entered into Purchase Agreements with Airbus for the purchase of six A330-300 and four A350-900 aircraft for delivery between 2014 to 2021 and also entered into lease agreements to take delivery of further three new A350-900 aircraft in 2016.

^^^^^^^

Above news doesn't say anything about what's going to happen to three A350XWBs coming through lease from Aercap to SriLankan this year to replace three A332s that going back to lessor end of this year.

Mr. Dias said the new travel frequencies have been prepared with the existing fleet. “We have not accounted for any new Airbus 350s (in this computation),” he said.

Based on the above they probably will not come.

Hi Thank you very Much For join me for this Forum

Anyone knows what happened for 4R - ALG

ILFC & SriLankan Airlines sign 12-year lease agreement for three A350-900s

October 7, 2013 – International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), a wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG), announced today it has signed a 12-year lease agreement with SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, for three A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft will support the airline’s long-haul fleet renewal.

“ILFC values our strong and important relationship with SriLankan,” said ILFC Chief Executive Officer Henri Courpron. “We look forward to contributing to SriLankan’s fleet renewal and its continued success. We believe these aircraft will provide valuable flexibility and efficient performance for the airline’s long-haul operations.”

The A350-900s are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 and are part of an operating lease agreement, which has an anticipated delivery timeline between July and September 2016.

4R-ALG Airbus A330-243 withdrawn from use 09th December 2015
Source - www.planespotters.net

Seems we are just going back and forth on this A350 order.

I've written to Aercap requesting clarification of the status of this order and the delivery schedule of these aircraft.

I'll let you know what they say.

Hi guys,

I'm the creator of the A350-Production website: https://sites.google.com/site/a350xw...duction-list-2

As SriLankan Airlines will hopefully get it's first A350 this year, I wanted to give you an update on the production process.

These will be the first A350s for UL:

MSN 52 A350-941 4R-xxx (test registration: F-WZFA)
MSN 55 A350-941 4R-xxx (test registration: F-WZFI)
MSN 60 A350-941 4R-xxx (test registration: F-WZFK)

The first frame is currently in Station 30 of the Final Assembly Line (FAL - Toulouse).



I expect this one to be painted in around 3-4 months, the delivery could be around June - July 2016.

Until now, no routes have been announced. Any suggestions? Do you tend either to a European route or a Asian route ?



If you have any questions regarding the A350 production process in general or any specific topics, don't hesitate to ask


Best wishes,
Philipp (from FRA)

I've actually come across your site on quite a few occasions and find it extremely helpful.

Right now the fate of the A350s for UL are a bit uncertain, however if they do end up with the airline the first routes will probably see are hops to MLE and possibly MAA for crew to get time on type. Afterwards I expect to see the A350s fly the European sectors where it's fuel efficiency will come into play. Though it's possible we might see them in the Middle East as well China as SriLankan is very flexible with it's widebody fleet and sends them wherever the capacity is needed.
The limiting factor is that there will be only 3 A350s so there won't be much slack in the fleet. I guess we'll know soon enough.

BTW A350-XWB thank you for the update regarding MSN-52

UL has a new website - click on the link to the new website on the exixitng one

Flight status; Still they have this estimated and actual dep/arr time joke in the new website as well. Usually airline publish the scheduled time and actual or estimated time, but UL to show a better picture publishes estimated and actual so it shows only few min +/-. But people know or can find out what is the original time of departure or arrival.

Dear Philipp,

Thank you for your updates. I am sure you are aware about the on-going debate as to weather UL is actually getting these A350's or not. No one seems to know what it going on. Is there any way for you to confirm 100% that this order has NOT been cancelled ?