Thursday, 3 October 2013 00:00
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SriLankan Airlines’ commissioned its new A320 Hangar on 27 September 2013, expanding work space that will contribute to more efficient and faster aircraft technical services to airlines that fly into the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
“This move brings SriLankan Airlines’ closer to its aviation goal of creating a reputed aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in South Asia. SriLankan envisages an exciting future for its aircraft maintenance services in Katunayake and at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport to enable expansion and development that can cater to the region,” said SriLankan’s Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe.
The new hangar, located at the BIA complex close to the airline’s main hangar, has a floor area of 30,000 square feet, increasing the space by 35%, affording dedicated space to carry out ‘C’ checks on Airbus A320s.
SriLankan’s Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena said: “This is a far-sighted investment and its benefits will be clearly seen in the years to come. Considering SriLankan’s engineering capability, expertise and reputation for services to all aircraft that fly into the BIA, there is high potential for growth to the next level as a technical service provider.”
The facility will also ease congestion in the main hangar, as the scope of the engineering services provided by SriLankan Engineering has expanded to service not only the aircraft of the national carrier and of Mihin Lanka but also revenue generating third party services for foreign customer carriers in the region.
SriLankan Engineering has conducted 27 ‘C’ checks on customer airlines this year alone and there is rapid growth in demand for third party engineering services which have been hampered by space constraints.
The new hangar will be utilised to service SriLankan’s entire A320 fleet and A320s of customer carriers that require third party services, which is a lucrative business for the national carrier.
“From small beginnings performing line maintenance and ‘B’ checks in the late ’70s and early 80s, SriLankan Engineering has progressed to perform the highest of airframe checks such as the 12-year check prescribed by manufacturers due to the expertise, dedication and commitment of an excellent team of technical and administrative staff,” said SriLankan’s Head of Engineering, Priyantha Rose.
The second phase of the new hangar is envisaged to equip the hangar to enable performing full strip and paint jobs of narrow body aircraft in the region.
