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Air Lanka - Sri Lankan Airlines – Asia’s rising carrierSriLankan - Air Lanka is Sri Lankas Flag Carrier Airline
New pro-active management teams were put in place; computer technology became the basis of Air Lanka's everyday activities; a reappraisal of the airline’s network was made; product enhancement became part of airline philosophy, and a fleet renewal programme was activated. But the most important stratagy was to raise awareness and underline its new ideals the airline set into motion a re-branding programme.
Apart from its cosmetic differences the SriLankan Airlines fleet, which now ranks among the most luxurious and well equipped in the world, is also one of the most efficient. Fleet compatibility has reduced maintenance and training costs, Rolls-Royce Trent and CFM56 engines give minimum fuel consumption on long-haul sectors, cargo uplift has increased, and the high quality of the products on offer is encouraging a growing number of passengers to fly SriLankan Airlines. We apologise for the repetition of some place or proper names with different spellings, but there is no definitive spelling translation of these words. We welcome reviews of any Sri Lanka resorts, hotels or visitor attractions. Please see our contributing writer's guidelines.
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 Contributing Writer's Guidelines
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April 1998 was the start of a new era in Sri Lankan civil aviation when
its flag carrier, Air Lanka, was privatised following the development of a strategic
partnership with Emirates Airline. The partnership involved the United Arab Emirates
airline taking around 40% of the shareholding in the Air Lanka, and was the boost
that was needed to re-establish Air Lanka as one of southern Asia’s major
international carriers. As part of its commitment to the Sri Lankan government
Emirates contracted to undertake the management of Air Lanka for an initial 10-year
period, during which time Emirates would stimulate growth and profitability.
Primary among these considerations was the development of Bandaranaike International
Airport near Colombo, as a major passenger and cargo hub.
The partnership has to all intents and purposes been a success, the business
plan was, to a great extent, based on the acquisition of six new fuel efficient,
easy to maintain, passenger friendly Airbus A330-200s to complement its fleet
of A340-300 and A320-200 aircraft. The first A330-200 joined the airline in October
1999, with the remaining five delivered by July 2000. That same year saw Air
Lanka’s last L1011 TriStar sold to Air Transit (Canada) but perhaps more
momentus, in July 1999, the company’s fourth A340-300 arrived at Colombo
painted in the airline’s new corporate livery. SriLankan Airlines was now
on view to the world.
As part of its product enhancement programme SriLankan upgraded its existing
A340 fleet into two-class configuration - business and economy. At the same time
the interior décor and seats were refurbished to reflect the airline’s
new corporate image and the inflight entertainment systems were improved to match
those of the new A330s. The A320 short-haul fleet also underwent an interior
modernisation programme.