Aviation Voice

05/07/2024

Emirates announces exclusive fares for Sri Lankan travellers booking trips to Europe and USA

Emirates has announced special fares exclusive to Sri Lanka, enabling travellers from Colombo to enjoy journeys to Europe and North America while flying better.

Inclusive of 20 popular destinations, the special fares allow Emirates customers to reap savings while enjoying the airline’s world-class services across all cabins. The limited-time only special rates enable passengers to save US$ 150 (Rs 45,750 at current rates of exchange) over the published fares for Business Class return tickets, and up to US$ 40 (Rs 12,200) on Economy Class return fares, the airline said. The all-inclusive fares in Rupees are subject to the rate of exchange on the day of purchase.

Subject to availability and terms and conditions, the special fares are available immediately for sale on the Emirates website or through travel agents till 31st July 2024, and will be valid for outbound travel till 31st October 2024, on flights operated by Emirates. No service charges apply when travel is booked and ticketed online.

Exciting destinations applicable to the special fares include London, Manchester, Paris, Milan, Rome, Bologna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich and Moscow in Europe, and New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Toronto and Montreal in North America.

Furthermore, members of Skywards, Emirates’ award-winning frequent flyer programme, will be able to enjoy further savings with the airline’s ‘Cash + Miles’ option, under which they can pay part of the fare with Skywards Miles accumulated.

Adding further value, the travel period covered by these special fares coincides with a Dubai stopover offer from Emirates. First Class or Business Class return tickets purchased between 1st July and 21st July 2024, for travel to or stopping over in Dubai for more than 24 hours, come with a complimentary two-night stay at the 5-star luxury hotel JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. On the same basis, Economy Class passengers enjoy a complimentary one-night stay. This special offer is valid for travel dates between 4th July and 15th September 2024.

Additionally, Emirates passengers are eligible for discounts on admission tickets until 30th September 2024 via My Emirates Pass, at Dubai’s epic water parks or at Burj Khalifa At The Top, when they present a physical or digital boarding pass and a valid form of identification.

The world’s largest international airline, Emirates began operations to Sri Lanka in April 1986 and this year celebrated 38 years of supporting the country’s tourism and export industries with passenger and cargo services. The award-winning airline has carried more than 12 million passengers to and from Colombo in this period. Emirates flies to more than 140 destinations across six continents, and currently operates two direct daily flights from Colombo to Dubai as well as an additional daily service via Male. - - Lanka Business Online

05/07/2024

Tourist arrivals up in June, Tourist arrivals showed signs of picking up with June arrivals increasing to 113,470.

Up to June 30 the total arrivals stood at 1,010,249 after the mid year and looks set to overtake the total arrival figure of 1,487,303 achieved in 2023. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with Airport Aviation Services, welcomed the one millionth tourist arrival to Sri Lanka on June 29.

05/07/2024

Airbus Delivers 323 Aircraft in 2024; 4% more than in same period 2023

Airbus delivered 67 aircraft in June, bringing the total number of aircraft delivered in the first half of the year to 323, up 2% compared to the first half of last year.

In the second quarter it increased deliveries by 4% compared to the same period last year.

It intends to slow the ramp-up of production of the flagship A320neo Family, reaching 75 aircraft created monthly in 2027 instead of 2026. - thecorner

04/07/2024

: SriLankan Airlines Flight UL605 Diverted to Jakarta

SriLankan Airlines flight UL605, operating from Melbourne to Colombo, was unexpectedly diverted to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia due to a medical emergency earlier today.

This diversion has caused UL605 to become the most tracked flight on Flightradar24 over the past hour, attracting considerable attention from aviation enthusiasts and travelers.

04/07/2024

Malaysia Airlines facilitates Sri Lanka’s top agents to witness Global Trade Elevation Summit 2024

A few of Sri Lanka's top trade partners, alongside the MH Country Manager, had the opportunity to witness the biggest-ever Trade Elevation Summit organized by Malaysia Airlines.

It was announced that the next Trade Elevation Summit is already scheduled for next year at a surprise location, and top contributors to MH will receive exclusive invitations.

This prestigious event underscores Malaysia Airlines' commitment to strengthening trade relationships and exploring new opportunities for growth in the region. The summit also highlighted innovative strategies and partnerships aimed at enhancing the airline's service offerings and expanding its network, reinforcing Malaysia Airlines' position as a leading carrier in the global aviation industry.

04/07/2024

India-Russia joint venture to get to run Mattala airport soon: Aviation minister

Sri Lanka will hand over the loss-making Mattala International Airport in Hambantota to a joint India-Russia venture “during the next few weeks” to run, Minister of Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said on Wednesday.

The India-Russia joint venture was awarded the management of the Mattala International Airport in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka in April. The USD 209 million facility was once dubbed the “world's emptiest airport” due to a lack of flights.

“Action will be taken during the next few weeks to handover the loss-making Mattala International Airport to a joint India-Russia venture,” de Silva told reporters.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan Cabinet, which met on January 9, approved the calling of Expression of Interest by prospective parties. Accordingly, five proposals were received, and the Cabinet-appointed consultative committee decided to award a management contract spanning 30 years to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia.

The project was funded through high-interest Chinese commercial loans. It was built at a cost of USD 209 million, with USD 190 million coming from a high-interest loan from the Exim Bank of China.

04/07/2024

Air India Operates Special Charter Flight AIC24WC to Fly World T20 Champions Home

The flight AIC24WC is operated by Boeing 777-200LR, registered as VT-AEE. Further it is a 15.3-year-old aircraft and is powered by GE90 engines.

Earlier it was operated by Delta Air Lines (DL) and still has same configuration as used by DL.

On FlightRadar24, it is one of the most tracked flights in the world.

04/07/2024

SriLankan Airlines to Undergo Restructuring, Not Sale - Aviation Minister

There are no suitable suitors for the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.

While only 49 percent of the shares of the carrier can be transferred to another entity, de Silva pointed out that there has been “minimal global interest in the opportunity”.
“... only six individuals expressing interest, none of whom were deemed suitable. Even if we were to extend this opportunity to a Sri Lankan entrepreneur, their capabilities would need to be demonstrated,” said de Silva addressing a press briefing at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday.

He added that the government’s approach involves in restructuring the airline rather than selling it outright.

In April, Requests for Qualification were received from AirAsia Consulting Sdn. Bhd., Dharshaan Elite Investment Holding (Pvt.) Ltd, FITS Aviation (Private) Limited, Sherisha Technologies Private Limited, Treasure Republic Guardians Limited and Hayleys PLC.

Considering the difficulty of attracting investors, with the debt burden of SriLankan Airlines, the government decided to transfer US $ 310 million worth of local loans guaranteed by the General Treasury to the government.

To safeguard the national carrier, the government offered assistance by issuing a Rs.5 billion equity contribution to support its ongoing cash flow problems in the first four months of 2024.

SriLankan Airlines recorded a revenue of Rs.333.6 billion in the fiscal year 2023/24, a decrease of 8.6 percent, compared to Rs.365.2 billion in 2022/23.

It recorded a profit before tax of Rs.7.3 billion in 2023/24, compared to a Rs.73.3 billion loss recorded in 2022/23, mainly due to converting the exchange loss of Rs.25.6 billion in 2022/23 to an exchange gain of Rs.0.5 billion in 2023/24. (Daily Mirror)

03/07/2024

2024 ජූලි 6 වැනි දින | ගුවන්සේවා ක්ෂේ‍ත්‍රයේ අධ්‍යාපනය හා රැකියා අවස්ථා සඳහා මග පෙන්වන ක්ෂේ‍ත්‍රයේ දැවැන්තයන් හමුවීමට අප ඔබට අවස්ථාව සලසන්නෙමු.

අපගේ ගුවන්යානා නඩත්තු ඉංජිනේරු උසස් ඩිප්ලෝමා පාඨමාලාව සහ ගුවන් සේවා තාක්ෂණ කළමනාකරණ ඩිප්ලෝමා පාඨමාලාව සදහා එදින ලියාපදිංචි වන සිසුන් සදහා සුවිශේෂී ශිෂ්‍යත්ව අවස්ථා.

මේ අනගි අවස්ථාව මග නොහරින්න..

Etihad, Kuwait Airways, සහ VD Gulf වැනි ගුවන් සමාගම්හි සේවය කිරීමට අවස්ථා ලබා දෙන Vision Concept වෙතින් කර්මාන්තයේ දැවැන්තයන් යටතේ සේවාස්ථ පුහුණුව(OJT)

Sonovision, Ceylon Aeronautical Services සහ අනෙකුත් ගුවන් සේවා සමාගම් සමග සබඳතා ගොඩනගා ගන්න.

මේ මහගු අවස්ථාව අතපසු නොකරන්න:

- කර්මාන්තයේ ප්‍රවීණයන් සමඟ සජීවී වෘත්තීය සාකච්ඡා.
- සීමාවාසික පුහුණුව සහ රැකියා අවස්ථා.
- ගුවන් සේවා වෘත්තීන් පිළිබඳ නවතම තොරතුරු.

ඔබේ අනාගතය සමඟ පියාසර කරන්න!

https://forms.gle/iB3NKGu4ZKzSnXEz7 හරහා දැන්ම ලියාපදිංචි වන්න

සුභ පැතුම්,

ලංකා පැසිෆික් ගුවන්සේවා සහ ඉංජිනේරු ඇකඩමි

Sri Lanka’s Premier Aviation News Portal..

03/07/2024

AirAsia Consulting to raise own funds if given to acquire SriLankan

AirAsia Consulting if selected to SriLankan Airlines divesting bid, would raise its own funds said Capital A, chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. Capital A Bhd’s consulting unit AirAsia Consulting Sdn Bhd is one of the final three bidders in the run to acquire SriLankan Airlines running up against two Sri Lankan business giants – a consortium of Sherisha Technologies Pte Ltd, Supreme Global Holdings and Qatar’s MBS Investment and one of Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate, Hayley’s PLC.

“AirAsia Consulting is also looking for opportunities to invest in airlines outside of Asean,” Fernandes said, adding that Bangladesh is another market that presents a good opportunity for AirAsia Consulting to invest in.

Airasia Consulting offers consulting services to airlines based on the vast experience and success of AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd, which is the umbrella company of AirAsia. In a bid to reduce losses that the airline has been incurring, the Sri Lankan government decided to privatise the carrier by selling its shares to interested parties. (www.nst.com.my)

03/07/2024

SLAF’s flying iron giants of No.2 Squadron

Today we journey into the realm of the heavy military transporters. The No. 2 Squadron located at the SLAF Base in Katunayake is the home of the pilots and formidable aircraft that give the Air Force its heavy lift capability. This squadron is embellished with a rich history manifesting with courage, sacrifice and professional excellence. The present Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal RAUP Rajapaksa has served as the Commanding officer of this squadron during the period of January 2010 to March 2011.

During the time of the Royal Ceylon Air Force the No. 2 Squadron was formed on September 2, 1957, under the command of Flight Lieutenant P.H. Mendis at SLAF Base Katunayake. The transport aircraft at that time were the Oxford Airspeed, Prestwick Pioneer and De Havilland Dove. The S-51 Dragonfly helicopter, the antecedent to SLAF helicopters was attached to this squadron. Later two De Havilland Herons entered service in 1959.

In the 1950s and 1960s the Herons and De Havilland’s were used in flood relief missions to airdrop essential items. During the 1971 insurgency, our aircraft had been used to transport food to several areas in the country. During the command of Air Vice Marshal P.H. Mendis two Convair 440 aircraft were added, enabling flights between Ceylon and the Maldives, operating as Helitours. Subsequently DC Dakota aircraft and HS 748 Avro were added to the fleet.

It is recorded that between 1983 and 1985 the No. 2 Squadron acquired Siai Marchetti SF260 aircraft along with one Beech King aircraft and one Avro which enabled the pilots to engage in Battlefield Air Interdictions, Close Air Support, Maritime Strikes and Reconnaissance. The No. 2 Squadron was then shifted to Ratmalana under the command of Squadron Leader J. Weerakkody. Later on, Y-12 aircraft were added to the fleet.

In 1987 the squadron received the Y-8 to their inventory. The Cessna 421 Golden Eagle aircraft was used extensively to support survey activities. In the early 1990s, the Y-8 and Y-12 aircraft were used for level bombing missions, in addition to their primary transport role. In 1992 the No. 2 Transport Wing was separated as the 201 Heavy Transport Squadron and 202 Light Transport Squadron. In 1995, the 201 Squadron was redesignated as the No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron. The flying horse Pegasus is the symbol of the squadron.

The trusted workhorse of the No. 2 Squadron is the Antonov AN-32B aircraft. This is a twin-engine turboprop military aircraft manufactured in Ukraine. The AN-32B is a version created from the AN-26 type aircraft. In April 1995 two Avro aircraft were lost and there was an urgent need for the SLAF to add aircraft to its inventory. In August 1995 three robust AN-32B aircraft were inducted into the SLAF fleet. This delivered confidence to the pilots and augmented the heavy lift capacity of the SLAF.
Some officers recalled that during the period when the LTTE acquired missile capability, there was a threat to SLAF aircraft landing at Palaly. During this time the pilots who flew the AN-32B had to adapt to new flying tactics, creating new routes flying over the ocean and avoiding flying over the land areas. After doing a spiral climb, the aircraft reached 21,000 feet. Take-off and landing were done towards the sea from Palaly.

However, a few AN-32B aircraft were lost. During operational flights cargo was unloaded at Palaly with the engines on. Unloading cargo and boarding passengers were done using its large rear loading ramp. This shows the commitment and risk taken by these pilots who reduced the turnaround time of these flights. The routine flight crew has two Pilots, a Flight Engineer and one Load Master. The AN-32B has a maximum take-off weight of 27,000 Kg and can cruise to its destination reaching speeds of 540 KMPH. Like its ‘big brother’ (the C-130), the AN-32B has made an immense contribution in troop transport, logistics support and casualty evacuation.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine, turboprop military transport aircraft. In spite of its large payload, this aircraft has the ability to take-off and land on unpaved runways. Presently this flying giant is the tactical military transporter used by more than 60 countries across the world. In 1992 one Y-8 aircraft was lost during a bombing mission, another in 1995 and the last one at Mathugama in 2003.
In order to fill this lacuna the SLAF high command decided to purchase two C-130 aircraft from the Royal Air Force. These two aircraft were originally of the K variant (tanker) and had to be reconverted to the E variant for cargo and passenger transport. One of these aircraft arrived in March 2000 and the other in September 2000. The arrival of this aircraft enhanced the heavy lift capacity of the SLAF, giving them greater power to augment military operations. The C-130 Hercules aircraft would serve as the lords of loads.

Ground crew training for the Sri Lankans was done at the PAF Base Nur Khan, in Pakistan. Flying training was done by instructors of the Pakistan Air Force, at the SLAF Base Katunayake. It was a golden day in Sri Lankan military aviation when the first C-130 operational flight was flown from SLAF Base Ratmalana and touched down at SLAF Base Palaly (Northern Province) on December 1, 2000. The dependable C-130 Hercules flew hundreds of flights to China Bay, Palaly, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya transporting troops and cargo. Additionally, these pilots saved many lives as they carried injured military personnel to Colombo. The pilots of No. 2 Squadron have the distinction of flying overseas to Pakistan, Bulgaria and China to bring back much needed military supplies. Some important armaments required for Sri Lanka Navy craft were flown in by the Hercules aircraft during the intense periods of engaging the LTTE. Further, urgently required arms and ammunition for the Sri Lanka Army were transported from China by the C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The SLAF C-130 Hercules can effortlessly carry a cargo of 70,300 Kg (maximum take-off weight) and reach speeds of upto 592 KMPH. The thundering roar of its engines during take-off is testament to the power of this flying giant. On routine flights the crew consists of two Pilots, one Flight Engineer, one Load Master and a Crew Chief. In 2003, the first major overhaul of the C-130 aircraft was done in Malaysia. The other aircraft underwent its overhaul in Jordan in 2004.

In July 2011 the squadron was shifted again to SLAF Base Katunayake. During their dedicated service to the nation, the AN-32B aircraft have flown 45,147 hours and the C-130 aircraft have flown 7215 hours. However, in March 2019 the C-130 Hercules was grounded as the PDM (programmed depot maintenance) servicing of the aircraft was due. They are expected to be in active service soon.

The recent overhaul of the three AN-32B aircraft was done at State Enterprise Civil Aviation, Ukraine. This institution is the only Antonov Design Bureau in the world to engage in major overhaul. The major overhaul has extended the service life of these transport aircraft. The President’s Colour was bestowed on this squadron on March 7, 2009, for their distinguished role in air operations. The pilots and all staff of No. 2 Squadron have done a golden service to the nation, sustaining hope, maintaining air diplomacy and being an air-bridge in times of need.

Daily News

03/07/2024

Qatar Airways posts largest annual profits in its history at $1.7 billion

Qatar Airways posted a 39% jump in annual net profit to a record 6.1 billion Qatari riyals ($1.67 billion) on Tuesday.

Revenue grew by 6% to 81 billion riyals in the year ended March 31, the government-owned airline said.

It carried more than 40 million passengers and recorded a load factor of 83%.
"Our continued focus on profitability, efficiency and customer experience have been underpinned by a strategic programme of network growth and fleet expansion, resulting in the highest revenues and profit margins in the history of the airline", CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer was quoted as saying in a statement from the airline. - Reuters

02/07/2024

10th Anniversary of 'Wings for World' Sri Lanka was successfully concluded at the Olanro Hotel, Negombo on 29th June 2024.

Album #2

Check out the highlights!

Contact us to cover your photography & videography needs +94 77 022 8859

© Aviation Voice

02/07/2024

10th Anniversary of 'Wings for World' Sri Lanka was successfully concluded at the Olanro Hotel, Negombo on 29th June 2024.

Album #1

Check out the highlights!

Contact us to cover your photography & videography needs +94 77 022 8859

© Aviation Voice

02/07/2024

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02/07/2024

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02/07/2024

Malaysia Airlines facilitates Sri Lanka’s top agents to witness Global Trade Elevation Summit 2024

A few of Sri Lanka's top trade partners, alongside the MH Country Manager, had the opportunity to witness the biggest-ever Trade Elevation Summit organized by Malaysia Airlines.

It was announced that the next Trade Elevation Summit is already scheduled for next year at a surprise location, and top contributors to MH will receive exclusive invitations.

This prestigious event underscores Malaysia Airlines' commitment to strengthening trade relationships and exploring new opportunities for growth in the region. The summit also highlighted innovative strategies and partnerships aimed at enhancing the airline's service offerings and expanding its network, reinforcing Malaysia Airlines' position as a leading carrier in the global aviation industry.

02/07/2024

101-year-old lady traveller takes Emirates flight from Dubai to Algiers..

Emirates welcomed 101-year-old centenarian Algerian traveller Rachida Smati onboard its flight to Algiers, Dubai's flagship airline announced Monday.

Rachida flew to Algiers with Emirates after visiting friends and family in Dubai. This was her third visit to the city, and she said Dubai is one of her favourite destinations for its accessibility, high standards of medical care, and vibrant attractions.

Rachida, a seasoned traveller, was extended a First-Class upgrade by the airline and was also greeted by a dedicated team, ensuring she was fast-tracked through the airport before heading to the First-Class lounge.

Rachida said, "I had a great experience on my Emirates flight to Dubai. The cabin crew were very kind and helpful. I'm looking forward to flying back to Algiers aboard Emirates and experiencing First Class, and I'm ever so grateful for the warm welcome by all of the teams."

02/07/2024

Air India launches Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Colombo routes

Air India, the national carrier of India, has introduced the latest addition to its fleet, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for the operations of the Colombo-Chennai and Colombo-Delhi routes.

According to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), the inaugural flight was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today (July 01) with a ceremonial water salute.

Air India currently operates 10 flights per week on the Colombo-Chennai route and 7 flights per week on the Colombo-Delhi route.

In 2023, India emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest tourism market, contributing 302,844 tourists, which accounted for 21% of the total arrivals. This strong performance has continued into 2024, with India maintaining its status as the top source market for tourists year-to-date.

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent economic crisis. The island nation, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, is once again welcoming travellers from around the globe.

Accordingly, reaching the important milestone of promoting Sri Lanka as a destination across the globe, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), in collaboration with the AASL, welcomed the one millionth tourist arrival to Sri Lanka last Saturday (June 29).

The AASL said it congratulates Air India for the new value addition at BIA and is happy to facilitate the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner at BIA. Hayleys PLC is the appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for Air India in Sri Lanka.

01/07/2024

Malaysia Airlines Hosts Inaugural Global Trade Elevation Summit 2024

Malaysia Airlines successfully hosted the largest airline trade event ever held in Malaysia, the first Malaysia Airlines Trade Elevation Summit 2024, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia (TM) and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). This inaugural event brought together 300 delegates, including over 200 international attendees from 48 cities and 21 countries.

The summit marked a significant milestone for Malaysia Airlines as it advances the goals of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) and positioned Kuala Lumpur (KUL) as a gateway for Asia and beyond, establishing Malaysia as a true ASEAN tourism and aviation hub.

Key decision-makers from major trade companies worldwide participated in the summit, fostering global collaboration, strategizing future initiatives, and strengthening ties crucial for advancing Malaysia's position in the global tourism landscape. This event underscored Malaysia Airlines' commitment to leveraging its role as the national carrier to support national tourism objectives.

Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, Datuk Captain Izham Ismail commented, “This summit transcended the typical conference; it celebrated partnerships that embody Malaysia Airlines’ inclusive spirit as we collaborate globally for mutual growth. We eagerly anticipate showcasing Malaysia’s hospitality and advancing tourism objectives through strategic alliances.

We are pleased to collaborate with industry leaders, including travel agents worldwide and local stakeholders like Tourism Malaysia and MyCEB to drive innovation, efficiency and growth in the aviation industry and beyond. We will continue leveraging these partnerships to fuel our expansion, increase our reach and commit our efforts to drive growth both domestically and globally, and look forward to forging strategic partnerships that form a robust network, broadening our market reach.”

The summit also featured the prestigious Golden Wau Awards, the first of its kind in the industry to celebrate top-performing sales agents who demonstrated exceptional achievements in driving revenue. These awards not only recognise excellence but also highlight the invaluable contributions of the trade partners to Malaysia Airlines' growth. By introducing this award, Malaysia Airlines aims to set new industry standards and inspire excellence among all trade partners, thereby significantly contributing to Malaysia Airlines' growth and enhancing Malaysia’s presence on the global tourism stage.

01/07/2024

Keep up the good work Madhumalia ❤️👏

01/07/2024

Flight of the Double Sunrise

‘ද්විත්ව හිරු උදාවේ පියසැරිය‘ | Flight of the Double Sunriseගුවන්සේවා ලෝක වාර්තාවකට හිමිකම් කියූ කොග්ගල ගුවන් පථය𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗡.....

01/07/2024

New terminal building construction at the BIA embroils in tender bender

Another controversy has arisen regarding the selection of a Contractor for the construction of the New Terminal Building at the Bandaranaike International Airport, coming under the purview of Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva’s Ministry, namely the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation

The tender for constructing a new terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is poised to be awarded to the Sri Lanka-China Joint Venture (JV) Company, a decision upheld by the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB).

This joint venture consists of Consulting Engineers and Contractors Ltd. (CEC) from Sri Lanka and the China National Aero-technology International Engineering Corporation (CAIEC). However, final approval hinges on the Cabinet’s decision and potentially the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

The call for bids, managed under the International Competitive Bidding category by the Standing Cabinet-Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was issued around 4 December 2023.

The project, initiated in December 2020 by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL) with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), faced delays due to the economic crisis, pushing its expected completion date from 2023 to an unspecified future date.

The new terminal aims to enhance accessibility and incorporate environmentally friendly features. It includes a remote apron with 23 aircraft parking stands, Ground Support Equipment (GSE) roads, and three stub taxiways.

The terminal will feature 96 additional check-in counters, eight baggage claim belts, seven baggage make-up carousels, 16 contact boarding gates with 28 Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs), and six bus gates.

Initially, the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) recommended awarding the contract to Sanken Construction Ltd., a local engineering firm, a recommendation accepted by the SCAPC.

Despite this, unsuccessful bidders appealed to the PAB, which subsequently recommended the CEC and CAIEC JV. Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation confirmed this, stating the decision has been submitted to the Cabinet and awaits their response. He noted the pending court case could alter the outcome.

Sanken Construction Ltd. has contested the PAB’s decision through a Writ Application (No.343/2024) in the Court of Appeal.

They allege the PAB made its recommendation without granting them a hearing and despite the JV’s non-responsiveness to technical specifications, as detailed in the TEC report dated 15 March.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman G.S. Withanage, also Chairman of the PAB, emphasized the independence and transparency of the process but refrained from commenting further due to the ongoing court case.

Lanka News Web

01/07/2024

Emirates staff to get pay hike, education allowance, longer leaves from July

In an email sent out to its employees, Emirates Group announced a four per cent increase basic salary for their employees.

The news comes after the group awarded its employees a bonus worth 20 weeks of their salary following their record-breaking financial performance.

There will be a four per cent increase in transport allowance and UAE national retention allowance. For flight deck and cabin crew, there will also be a four per cent increase in flying and productivity pay. Additionally, all employees will receive a 10-15% increase in housing allowance, depending on their grade within the company.

The details of the new basic salary and fixed allowances will be reflected in the contractual adjustment letter which will be distributed on July 22, according to the email that was sent out on Friday, June 28.

The salary increment will not be given to employees who are on a final warning or those who are subject to disciplinary proceedings that may result in dismissal. Those who have not completed probation as of July 1, 2024 and those who are serving notice will also not receive this hike.

The changes in the salary come following the 2024 Pay and Benefits Review approved by the group’s chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Additional benefits
Aside from the pay hikes, additional benefits will also be given to employees, such as an increase in paid maternity leave from 60 days to 90 days. Paternity leave has also been extended from five days to 10. New mothers will also get two hours of nursing break as opposed to the previous one hour.

Employees who hold Grade 1 to Grade 5 will no longer have to contribute to the life insurance premium. This cost will be borne by the company.

In addition to this, employees of certain grades will receive an enhancement of long-term sick leave, as of September 1, 2024. Education support allowance will also be increased by 10 per cent starting September.

In recent times, the group has intensified its recruitment process and are hiring for more pilots, flight attendants and engineers. Earlier this year, the group had announced that it would hire 5,000 cabin crew in 2024.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, John Walker, VP Base Maintenance at EK Engineering, had said that the group’s engineering 50,000 sq m facility will move to a new one at the new Dubai Al Maktoum airport by late 2027 or early 2027. “The new facility will be double the size and the number of engineers is expected to increase from 3000 to more than 5000 by then,” he said.

Source: Khaleej Times