SriLankan Airlines is moving ahead with plans to expand its fleet to 25 aircraft, including the acquisition of two additional wide-body planes by the end of this year, in an effort to increase flight frequencies and resume suspended routes.
The airline recently added a new Airbus A330-200 on dry lease—the first aircraft to join the fleet in seven years—bringing the current fleet size to 23.
Chairman Sarath Ganegoda stated that while the budget has been allocated for two more aircraft, global supply shortages have delayed the acquisitions.
He noted that flight frequency to destinations like Frankfurt, Germany, will be increased, and plans are underway to resume flights to Beijing, China, to support tourism.
Although the previous government aimed to privatize the loss-making national carrier as part of broader state-owned enterprise reforms, the current administration under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has opted for revival instead, citing the airline’s key role in boosting tourism and the national economy.
In his 2025 budget speech, President Dissanayake announced a Rs. 20 billion allocation to address the airline’s legacy debt, with Rs. 10 billion set aside for capital repayment and another Rs. 10 billion for interest payments.
Industry experts, including former CEO Richard Nuttall, have emphasized the post-COVID challenges in the aviation sector, particularly a global aircraft shortage and reduced availability of trained technicians and engineers.
