SriLankan Airlines has added a newly leased Airbus A320 aircraft bearing the serial number 4R – ABS to the fleet bumping up its total aircraft count to 22.

Leased for six years, the aircraft arrived from Malaysia to Colombo last night (21 December 2023) and will be put into service immediately after customization and branding. Its inaugural scheduled flight is currently expected to take place on 29 December ’23 to the Maldives.

The aircraft is notably equipped with Sharklet wingtips that reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. It will be primarily deployed on the airline’s short and medium-haul routes covering the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, and the Middle East. With a configuration of 12 Business Class seats and 138 Economy Class seats, 4R – ABS will allow SriLankan to increase its seat capacity on these routes.

SriLankan Airlines now has 12 narrow-bodied aircraft and 10 wide-bodied aircraft in its fleet.

The year has been challenging for SriLankan and the whole industry with shortages of available aircraft and engines, and supply chain issues extending maintenance times. This has led to a reduction in flights.

However, this aircraft is the first of a number of aircraft and engines that will boost the fleet in the coming weeks. By the start of January 2024, SriLankan expects another three aircraft to be flying with the addition of a wet leased A330 and the arrival of two more engines. The airline will also be taking another sister aircraft to 4R – ABS that is scheduled to arrive in March 2024.

SriLankan Airlines currently maintains direct operations between Colombo and 36 cities in 21 countries and is a member of the oneworld Alliance.