SriLankan Airlines, the flag carrier of Sri Lanka, intends to undertake an extensive renovation and expansion of its aircraft fleet.
To that end, the carrier has issued a Request for Proposals divided into four subgroups. Among the orders are the leasing of up to 11 A320 family aircraft, both Neos or Ceos.
Another 11 single-aisle aircraft are planned between Embraer’s E2 (E190-E2 or E195-E2) and Airbus A220 (-100 or -300) models. Deliveries of leased aircraft are expected to take place between December 2022 and April 2025, with a lease term of six years. The airline currently has seven A320s and five A321s, six of them of the Neo variant.
SriLankan also aims to strengthen its long-haul fleet. The requirement provides for the leasing of up to ten A330-200s or A330-300s, provided they are less than 15 years old.
Another ten widebodies will be selected from Airbus’ A330-800, A330-900 and A350-900, or Boeing’s 787-9 and 787-10.
Suspected corruption
SriLankan announced its fleet renewal plan amid accusations that the order for four A350-900s with Airbus involved the payment of bribes by the European planemaker.
The airline has been trying to cancel the order for several years and asked Airbus for a $1 billion refund last year.
