SriLankan to add Canada, Vietnam to route network

To recommence flights to Melbourne:

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in St. Kitts

SriLankan Airlines is mulling opportunities at flying to two new destinations, Canada and Vietnam and negotiations in this regard will take place next year. The national carrier will once again add Melbourne to their route network from end of this year.

SriLankan Airlines made aviation history by embarking on the longest flight by flying the Commonwealth bid team to St. Kitts from Colombo. The journey with a two-hour technical stop over in London was 23 hours. Here the aircraft at Bradley International airport in St. Kitts. Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane

Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Ranjith De Silva said they already have a code share agreement with Air Canada which has been welcomed by passengers. “We will meet the Canadian counterparts next May to look at a bilateral air service agreement which is the first step towards operating SriLankan flights to any destination in Canada.”

This will be followed up by a commercial meeting where frequencies would be decided. The airline is looking at operating around four flights a week with a stopover in London.

He also said similarly they will hold bilateral talks with Vietnam in January.

He said they have also made a remarkable progress obtaining rights to operate 14 flights per week to Saudi Arabia from the current four per week.

Another new A 320 aircraft has been acquired for SriLankan Airlines and it will arrive in December.

Currently the airline has increased its fleet from 13 to 20 which also includes two air taxis. This also includes three new A320 aircraft.

The Secretary said that with the Sri Lankan economy picking up and tourism booming, the airline is looking at fleet expanding and spreading its wings to new destinations. Currently the airline services 72 destinations.

SriLankan Airlines made aviation history by embarking on the longest flight by flying the Commonwealth bid team to St. Kitts from Colombo. The pilots have had to undergo special training to land the flight since the runway in St. Kitts was small. “The aircraft also flew nearly ten hours over the Atlantic ocean,” he said.