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SriLankan Airlines in the context of the country’s financial meltdown
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Whither the national airline? With the country embroiled in a financial meltdown of unprecedented proportions, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, Parliament confirmed Ranil Wickremesinghe as the nation’s eighth Executive President by a clear margin. One of the many challenges facing the new President is the future of the state-owned national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. A perennially…
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Sri Lanka’s aviation sector stirs to life
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FITS Air acquires an Airbus A320 FITS Air, formerly ExpoAir, has recently taken delivery of an Airbus A320, becoming the first private airline in Sri Lanka to do so. This is a landmark occasion for Sri Lankan aviation, one that the airline’s owner’s hope will usher in a new and successful era. In a previous…
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The disappearance of the Boeing 777— has the mystery been solved?
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MH370 — Seven years later This is the third time I have written about the tragic case of MH370. I hope that we can resolve this mysery and find some closure for the families who are left behind. Seven years have passed since a Boeing 777–200ER operated by Malaysia Airlines, using the call sign MH370,…
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Mass tourism in the teeth of a pandemic
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An experiment in the Gulf The Arabian Gulf, known for its torrid summer heat, is at its best during the short winter. December is particularly lovely, with warm daytime temperatures, cool nights, light winds and calm seas. Perfect vacation weather compared to northern Europe, which is dank and gloomy by then. What better time to…
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The crash of Icelandic Airlines flight LL001 – Part 2
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The crash of Icelandic Airlines flight LL001 – the aftermath The tragic crash of Flight LL001, a Douglas DC-8-63CF operated by Icelandic Airlines and chartered by Garuda Indonesia, in November 1978 sent shock waves through Sri Lanka. The island was just emerging from a long period of self-imposed isolation. In November 1978, when the accident…
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The crash of Icelandic Airlines flight LL001 — Part 1
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The crash of Icelandic Airlines flight LL-001 In 1978 Sri Lanka was emerging from a long period of economic isolation. A landmark election the year before had ushered in a change of government, with a mandate to open up the economy. Rebuilding ties with the West, long-ignored during a period of austerity and socialist policies,…
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Martinair Flight 138 – Sri Lanka’s worst air disaster
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It was December 1974 and the Hajj was in full swing. The Hajj has been called the greatest pilgrimage movement in the world, with millions of devout Muslims travelling to Mecca every year. It is a requirement for every Muslim to accomplish the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. This has been a lucrative…
