Sri Lankan Airlines unveils long term growth plans

SriLankan Airlines has unveiled a new five-year strategic plan, focusing on achieving financial stability, long-term sustainability, and growth.

The airline's leadership says it has already made significant progress over the past year in key areas, including debt management, fleet operations, and passenger experience.

The national carrier's on-time performance has reportedly improved to seventy-four per cent this year, up from sixty-nine per cent in twenty twenty-four, despite worldwide shortages of parts and engines.

Officials say this is due to new software and internal maintenance capabilities.

The airline has also brought two previously grounded aircraft back into service, with another expected to return early next year. In June, SriLankan Airlines added a leased Airbus A330-200, its first wide-body aircraft in seven years.

The airline has also expanded its flight network, with adjusted schedules on Indian routes and more frequent services to destinations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Since July, this has included double-daily flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok, as well as four additional services to Dubai.

The company states that these changes have helped to increase passenger revenue by ten per cent and passenger numbers by twenty-two per cent over the first five months of the current financial year.

Customer service has also seen improvements, with new features like wireless inflight entertainment, an AI-powered chatbot called 'Yaana,' and self-service options at the airport.

SriLankan Airlines has also highlighted its commitment to sustainability with initiatives to reduce fuel consumption and paper waste.

The new five-year plan will continue to focus on debt restructuring, fleet expansion, and the adoption of modern technology to enhance the customer experience.