SriLankan Airlines requires at least seven additional aircraft to expand into new routes and rationalise its existing network, but a global aircraft shortage has significantly hindered acquisition efforts, a minister said.
The global aviation industry is currently grappling with limited aircraft availability. According to the International Air Transport Association, aircraft supply remains one of the most significant constraints on industry growth. Although deliveries began to recover in late 2025 and production is expected to accelerate in 2026, demand continues to outpace supply. IATA has noted that the imbalance between airline requirements and manufacturing capacity is unlikely to normalise before 2031–2034 due to delivery losses over the past five years and a record-high order backlog.
Current delivery shortfalls amount to at least 5,300 aircraft, while the global order backlog exceeds 17,000 planes—equivalent to nearly 60 percent of the active global fleet.
Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku said it is extremely challenging for the government to secure even a single aircraft on a dry lease due to the shortage. “We need at least one or two aircraft immediately,” he said.
Regarding the airline’s future plans, the Deputy Minister stated that applications have been received from several candidates for the post of Chief Executive Officer and that the shortlisting process is currently underway.
SriLankan Airlines reported a loss of Rs. 2.73 billion for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, compared to a profit of Rs. 7.9 billion the previous year. Revenue declined by 10.8 percent to Rs. 303 billion from Rs. 339.6 billion, while operating expenditure fell by 11.7 percent to Rs. 276.3 billion from Rs. 313 billion, according to its latest annual report.
