With the fleet renewal programme the airline will expand its long- and medium-haul operations by optimising fuel efficiency and bring in the possibility of exploring more destinations.
SriLankan Airlines has initiated its extensive fleet renewal plan for a more luxurious and enhanced travel experience with the arrival of its first brand new A330-300 aircraft last October, allowing passengers the opportunity to enjoy the luxury, on-board comforts of the new aircraft.
Progressing with its wide-body re-fleeting programme, SriLankan Airlines will be taking delivery of its fifth Airbus 330-300 aircraft on 10 November 2015, which marks the airline’s third aircraft introduced in 2015. The latest addition to the fleet of the seven A330-300 bearing the registration 4R-ALP, will be deployed predominantly on SriLankan Airline’s long -haul routes to Europe, Far East and China, while the remaining two A330s are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year.
SriLankan Airlines, Chief Executive Officer, Captain Suren Ratwatte welcoming the new aircraft to the fleet said, “With the anticipated cost reductions and improved efficiencies from these fuel efficient aircraft and with their product appeal, we are confident of positioning the Airline in achieving better yields and revenues. The response so far with the four recently acquired A330-300s has been very positive, reflecting enhanced customer satisfaction on the superior features and comfort levels of the aircraft, which inspires us to further improve our brand to make it synonymous with aspirational travel and experiences”.
With the fleet renewal programme the airline will expand its long- and medium-haul operations by optimising fuel efficiency and bring in the possibility of exploring more destinations.
SriLankan Airlines, having become a member of the oneworld airline alliance in May last year, is geared to unveil an enhanced world-class service with a line-up of novelties where the ease of modern air travel harmoniously blends in with the uniqueness of Sri Lanka.
The cabins of these aircraft are illustrated with motifs inspired by the extraordinary diversity and beauty of the Island’s fauna and flora, especially those of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cabins, which are the quietest in this category of aircraft, also feature soothing mood lighting designed to suit meal times and relaxation times. They also feature a tropical sunset, sunrise and starry skies.
The new aircraft are also equipped with the advanced in-flight and communication facilities on-board to provide maximum enjoyment and connectivity to the passengers. The Thales Avant, an Android-based audio video on-demand system in both Economy and Business class; the Smart Video Display Unit (SVDU) with screen sizes ranging from 10.6″ in Economy class to 15.4″ in Business class; and the handheld Touch Passenger Media Unit (TPMU), which functions as an interactive second screen for web browsing, interactive games and email, are some of the novel features that will be installed in the new aircraft. SriLankan Airlines has also introduced “Linked SriLankan”, WIFI and Mobile (GSM) connectivity on all new A330-300 aircraft joining the national carrier’s fleet. The service, provided by OnAir, enables the passengers to email, tweet, send text messages, make calls, and surf the internet during the flight.
SriLankan Airlines will be acquiring eight latest generations A350-900 from 2016 which will have a wide fuselage cross-section designed for an optimal travel experience in all classes of service, with passengers enjoying more headroom, wider panoramic windows and larger overhead storage space in addition to providing space for unmatched economy class and business solutions.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
