SriLankan Airlines welcomes Airbus A320neo to its fleet

By Charumini de Silva

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday marked the arrival of the first of six planes of the next generation Airbus A320neo series that are expected within the next 15-18 months.

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Captain Suren Ratwatte said the arrival of the A320neo variants would align well with its strategic focus on the regional-based model, which will help the airline reduce its fuel and operating costs while improving standards.

 According to him, SriLankan Airlines was one of the first few airlines to acquire the next generation A320neo aircraft and was the second airlines in the oneworld Alliance.

He said the Neo series has been designed to provide significantly lower fuel consumption and lower operating costs through more modern engines, aerodynamic refinements, large curved winglets known as sharklets and weight savings.

“As SriLankan celebrates 70 years of business this year, we hope to become a premium airline in the South Asian region,” Captain Ratwatte added.

The airline’s dynamic strategy is witnessing the addition of two Airbus A320neo and four A321neo aircraft to its fleet in a little over a year. The second A320neo aircraft is scheduled for delivery in April 2017, followed by the first and second A321neo aircraft in the second quarter. A third A321neo is to arrive before the end of 2017, with the fourth A321neo due during the first quarter of 2018. The orders for these aircraft were placed several years ago. The revamped fleet will enable the airline to provide more efficient management of its newly overhauled business plan for a leaner and more efficient regional operation.

SriLankan Airlines Chief Technical Officer Dinnaga Padmaperuma said the A320neo would help reduce the fuel cost of the firm by 13%-15%, insisting that the new fleet was ideal for the company’s new business plan.

At present the airline holds 23 flying aircraft in its fleet which includes 13 A330s, five A320s, two A321s, two Mihin Air planes and one A320neo. 

The SriLankan A320neo is configured for 150 passengers in a two-class cabin layout with 12 business class seats and 138 economy class seats. It is powered by CFM Leap. The carrier will deploy the aircraft on its expanding route network connecting Colombo with destinations in India, the Middle East and the Far East.

Airbus Industries’ neo series (neo stands for ‘New Engine Option’) has already proven to be highly popular in the global airline industry. The A320neo Family incorporates the latest engines and aerodynamic enhancements, delivering more than 15% fuel savings from day one and 20% by 2020. With over 4,800 orders received from 89 customers, the A320neo Family has captured over 60% of market share in its category.

The A320 Family is the world’s bestselling single-aisle product line with over 12,800 orders since its launch and more than 7,300 aircraft delivered to some 400 customers and operators worldwide. Thanks to their wide cabin, all members of the A320 Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18-inch-wide seats in economy as standard. 

SriLankan Airlines and Airbus embarked upon a long-term, strategic partnership in 1993 when the airline began operating the A320 and A340. It has since grown to be an all-Airbus operator with a fleet of 24 Airbus aircraft.

SriLankan’s global network covers 101 cities in 47 countries. As a member of the oneworld global airline alliance, SriLankan also connects its passengers to oneworld’s worldwide network of more than 1,000 destinations in 160 countries.

Pix by Ruwan Walpola