Sri Lanka Aviation

[banuthev]

Sri Lanka and Myanmar have launched talks to establish direct air connectivity between the two countries.

Hi Aaqib, Is it good idea if Myanmar Airways flying YGN-MAA-CMB ?

[Serendib]

Any news about leasing A330 and A321?

At this moment, UL have at least confirmed on five narrow bodies and two A330s. Next two to three months, acquiring at least seven aircraft in the first phase.

The airline currently has a fleet of 22 aircraft, out of which four are grounded due to delays in procuring required spare parts,

Pathirage said the biggest challenge SriLankan is facing at the moment is its inadequate fleet, which impedes operating flights on new routes and increasing frequencies to destinations the airline is already flying, where there is demand for additional flights.

[Ceylon Air]

At this moment, UL have at least confirmed on five narrow bodies and two A330s. Next two to three months, acquiring at least seven aircraft in the first phase.

The airline currently has a fleet of 22 aircraft, out of which four are grounded due to delays in procuring required spare parts,

Pathirage said the biggest challenge SriLankan is facing at the moment is its inadequate fleet, which impedes operating flights on new routes and increasing frequencies to destinations the airline is already flying, where there is demand for additional flights.

Good to hear finally some progress. Will SriLankan refixed cabin interior for incoming fleet? . A330's 200 or 300 variant?

[Aaqib]

Hi Aaqib, Is it good idea if Myanmar Airways flying YGN-MAA-CMB ?

I feel that would be a good move to operate 5th Freedom Flights between MAA and CMB as I doubt Myanmar alone would yield a high load factor

Any idea what aircraft they’d be operating? They do have A319’s which would be a good aircraft to deploy

[Serendib]

AirAsia to launch “Colombo-Bangkok” direct flights from July

AirAsia’s Colombo, Sri Lanka - Bangkok Don Mueang direct flight will operate 4 times a week on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun Flight FD141 will depart Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at 11.00 p.m. to arrive at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, Thailand at 04.05 a.m. the following day. Flight FD140 departs Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) at 7.45 p.m. to arrive in Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo Sri Lanka at 10.00 p.m

[Gayan28]

AirAsia to launch “Colombo-Bangkok” direct flights from July

AirAsia’s Colombo, Sri Lanka - Bangkok Don Mueang direct flight will operate 4 times a week on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun Flight FD141 will depart Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at 11.00 p.m. to arrive at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, Thailand at 04.05 a.m. the following day. Flight FD140 departs Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) at 7.45 p.m. to arrive in Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo Sri Lanka at 10.00 p.m

Finally a low-cost carrier from Bangkok.
We need one from Singapore too.

[banuthev]

Finally a low-cost carrier from Bangkok.
We need one from Singapore too.

Fitsair better launch Singapore asap before competitor enters in Colombo-Singapore route.

I wonder what delays Fitsair's launch to Singapore as they have already sufficient fleet to expand?

[banuthev]

I feel the target market would be mostly onward traffic to South East Asia

KUL should remain on the cards for FitsAir….Bangkok (DMK) would be a good market to venture in to, not forgetting AirAsia’s strength in the region

Sustaining the above routes may prove to be challenging

Hi Aaqib,

Do you think Fitsair's plan of launching Bangkok affected after announcement of AirAsia resuming DMK-CMB route?

I guess Fitsair better speedup the launching of new destinstions quickly as it seems International airlines are starting to resume flights to Colombo Airport in coming months. What do you think?

Fitsair also better think about Jeddah route as its not being served by any Airlines currently. How Fitsair can make Jeddah work out with A320ceo?

[banuthev]

I feel that would be a good move to operate 5th Freedom Flights between MAA and CMB as I doubt Myanmar alone would yield a high load factor

Any idea what aircraft they’d be operating? They do have A319’s which would be a good aircraft to deploy

Does India allow 5th Freedom flights? I haven't noticed any international airline operating any passenger-flight with 5th freedom out of india.

[Serendib]

Sri Lanka's FitsAir mulls narrowbody options, to add ATRs

Bolstered by its early success as a revamped, passenger-focused carrier, FitsAir has revived plans to add ATR72s but is also thinking about growing its narrowbody fleet, Vice-President (Passenger) Peter Hill told ch-aviation in an exclusive interview.

[banuthev]

Sri Lanka's FitsAir mulls narrowbody options, to add ATRs

Bolstered by its early success as a revamped, passenger-focused carrier, FitsAir has revived plans to add ATR72s but is also thinking about growing its narrowbody fleet, Vice-President (Passenger) Peter Hill told ch-aviation in an exclusive interview.

It seems Fitsair have dropped the plan of adding Q400s to the fleet?

What are your thoughts of Fitsair expanding into India and the Maldives with ATRs?

[Pulathisi3]

Hi Aaqib, Is it good idea if Myanmar Airways flying YGN-MAA-CMB ?

Direct flight is not a wise idea . If really need can extended DAC ( Bangladesh) flight RGN ( Myanmar)

There is few routs to be fixed before this sector . SGN ( Vietnam ) MNL ( Philippines) can start via BKK additional flight and Via HKG . Also ICN must be daily flight . Also UL 364 CGK must extended to DPS - Denpasar , Bali with one hour technical stop at CGK

[Aaqib]

It seems Fitsair have dropped the plan of adding Q400s to the fleet?

What are your thoughts of Fitsair expanding into India and the Maldives with ATRs?

ATR’s seem practical as they have previously operated them…..in this case they should deploy them from RML to Maldives and South India

[wij.adr]

ATR’s seem practical as they have previously operated them…..in this case they should deploy them from RML to Maldives and South India

What happened to the plans to get 400s? They are much faster (over 100 ktas) and will be back in RML and turned and gone on its way to TRV while the ATR is still wallowing in the clag back from MLE They also carry 90 pax whereas the ATR tops out at 72 and then you have problems carrying all the bags

[Aaqib]

What happened to the plans to get 400s? They are much faster (over 100 ktas) and will be back in RML and turned and gone on its way to TRV while the ATR is still wallowing in the clag back from MLE They also carry 90 pax whereas the ATR tops out at 72 and then you have problems carrying all the bags

Agreed. They’ve probably gone ahead with the ATR’s based on their current utilization of their A320ceo’s - I’ve noticed 4R-EXR being primarily deployed to DXB and operating just two sectors per day along with EXS operating to MAA and MLE
Any reason why they aren’t fully utilizing them unlike the other LCCs in the region which look for optimal utilization