SriLankan Airlines has added a newly leased Airbus A320 aircraft bearing serial number 4R – ABS to its fleet, increasing its total aircraft count to 22.
Leased for six years, the aircraft arrived in Colombo from Malaysia on December 21 and will be put into service after customisation and branding. Its inaugural flight on December 29 will be to the Maldives.
The aircraft is equipped with Sharklet wingtips that reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. It will be primarily deployed on short and medium-haul routes covering the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, and the Middle East. With 12 Business Class seats and 138 Economy Class seats, it will permit the airline to increase its seat capacity on these routes.
SriLankan has 12 narrow-bodied aircraft and 10 wide-bodied aircraft in its fleet. The year has been challenging for SriLankan and the whole industry with shortages of aircraft and engines, and supply chain issues extending maintenance times. This has led to a reduction in the number of flights.
However, this aircraft is the first of a number of aircraft and engines that will boost the fleet in the coming weeks. By the start of next month, the airline expects another three aircraft to be flying with the addition of a wet leased A330 and the arrival of two more engines. The airline will also be taking a sister aircraft for the 4R – ABS, and is due to arrive in March.
SriLankan Airlines currently maintains direct flight operations between Colombo and 36 cities in 21 countries and is a member of the Oneworld Alliance.
