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SriLankan Airline gets first A320 aircraft in re-fleeting programme

According to a Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) report, SriLankan Airlines started a re-fleeting programme on December 4, 2008, and took delivery of the first of the several new A320 aircraft. The second aircraft is also scheduled to arrive this month, with the third and fourth likely to be obtained in the first quarter of 2009. The airline intends to acquire fifth in the next financial year. Manoj Gunawardena, CEO, SriLankan Airlines said, “The arrival of this aircraft is a significant milestone in the history of SriLankan Airlines. It signals the launch of our re-fleeting programme, which is an integral part of our strategy to bring it back to profitability. The re-fleeting is projected to bring about significant cost savings to the airline in both fuel and maintenance, and also enhance flight punctuality.”

The new aircraft will replace the airline’s existing fleet of A320’s. The carrier last acquired an aircraft in July of 2004. The airline’s new management team is implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce costs and take full advantage of new and existing business opportunities. The airline on November 30, 2008 re-launched services to Rome, which it will operate three times a week. The airlines also launched direct flights between London and Male last month.

It currently has a fleet of 14 aircraft – five A320’s, four A330’s, and five A340’s. Its oldest A320 is to be decommissioned this month, and second by the end of the year. The airline uses its A320’s to serve its 11 destinations in India, as well as Male and Karachi, and some cities in the Middle East. Its long-haul A330 and A340 aircraft serve Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Far East.

The new aircraft, which arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on November 30, 2008, is presently being fitted with the airline’s logo and livery at its engineering complex in Katunayake. It will carry 152 passengers in a two class layout of 20 Business Class seats and 132 Economy Class seats. The aircraft has been leased from AWAS of Ireland for a period of three years, and is approximately two years old.

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