SriLankan scores high on punctuality

SriLankan Airlines first quarter (Jan-March) punctuality record reveals an impressive high average, exceeding the airline’s punctuality benchmarks for all flights departing Colombo and destinations in the entire network.

The punctuality average maintained for flights departing Colombo within 15 minutes of the scheduled time has been 89 per cent, surpassing the airline’s benchmark of 85 per cent with the month of March achieving a percentage as high as 92. Punctuality for flights departing Colombo within 3 minutes of the scheduled time is 73 per cent, exceeding again, the airline’s benchmark of 70 per cent.

SriLankan Airlines’ System-wide Departure Punctuality Average for flights within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, for the first quarter, is only a fraction short of the benchmark of 85 per cent, having achieved an average of 83 per cent.

SriLankan is the sole ground handler at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and currently handles approximately 1800 of its own flights and an additional 1900 flights of other airlines, totalling approximately 3700 monthly flight movements. In the midst of handling a large volume, the airline has taken every measure to improve its own ‘on-time’ departures.

 “This is a clear indication of a high level of performance and the trend is attributed to several effective measures introduced to the system to improve punctuality,” SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena said. “We consider it very important to maintain this positive trend of operating on-time, in this highly competitive environment,” he added.

Punctuality is one of the key indicators of performance and an important service differentiator. Also it has a significant effect on cost savings.

The reasons for flight delays fall into the categories of ‘avoidable’ and ‘unavoidable conditions. The results reveal that SriLankan has managed all ‘controllable’ factors reasonably well. Some ‘uncontrollable’ factors that have affected recent flights are Air Traffic Controls due to unfavourable weather, airspace closures in South India and tsunami warnings which have had a ripple effect on air traffic movements. Other common factors that contribute to delays are late arrival of passengers and air traffic congestion in busy airports.

 “All departments involved in the preparation of a flight despatch, have taken up the challenge to achieve ‘on-time’ departures especially by setting an example in the Colombo hub. Our Punctuality Impr-ovement Committee is entrusted to get to the root causes of any delays. All this has resulted in a dramatic improvement,” SriLankan’s Head of Flight Operations Captain Navin De Silva said.

Getting a flight to leave ‘on time’ is a challenging task for airlines across the world. Airlines have to ensure that they comply with safety regulations, enhanced security checks, airport congestion, weather and unforeseen operational conditions.

SriLankan is continuously enhancing the check-in, baggage handling and airport formalities to improve efficiencies that contribute to ‘on-time’ departures.

The ‘on-going’ extensive upgrade carried out at the BIA, will further contribute to improve passenger and aircraft handling in the future.