News
SriLankan sale enters next round of negotiations
January 27th 2017
The Sri Lankan government on Monday said it had shortlisted three bidders for equity of 49% in flag carrier SriLankan Airlines, including Texas Pacific Group, PeaceAir Pvt Ltd and Maldivian company Super Group Partners. Read More » The prime minister is expected to make a decision by mid-February.
It emerged that Qatar Airways had initially expressed an interest in its oneworld fellow, but did not submit an official proposal.
SriLankan’s debts exceed US$1 billion. Last year, it cancelled a deal with AerCap for four A350-900s, which incurred penalties of US$98 million. It plans to cancel a contract with Airbus for four more A350s, due from 2020, according to state enterprise development minister, Kabir Hashim.
In better news, the airline expected to receive its first A320neo next week. In October, it signed lease contracts for six neos, four from ALC and two from AerCap. SriLankan will launch the neo on the Colombo-Kuala Lumpur route. Separately, it plans to launch daily Colombo-Muscat flights “from April/May”.
