By: Staff Writer
September 25, Colombo (LNW): SriLankan Airlines has announced a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aimed at restoring financial stability, strengthening operations, and recovering from recent fleet challenges, while setting the stage for long-term growth.
The national carrier said the roadmap focuses on debt restructuring, operational efficiency, sustainable practices, and the integration of new technology to deliver smoother passenger experiences.
The airline has pledged to reduce waste and improve efficiency across all operations. Measures include optimising fuel usage with advanced digital flight monitoring, further automating office systems to cut down on paper consumption, and introducing energy-saving practices and real-time monitoring at SriLankan Catering facilities.
Over the past year, the airline has taken steps to streamline costs, restructure debt, expand revenue streams, and enhance customer experience, while also investing in staff development and sustainability.
SriLankan has recorded progress in punctuality, with on-time performance rising to 74% this year from 69% in 2024. The improvement comes despite global engine shortages and spare parts constraints. Investments in fleet management software and in-house facilities for calibration, testing and inspections have helped speed up maintenance turnarounds, improve scheduling, and boost independence.
Two aircraft that were grounded due to engine shortages have already returned to service, while a third is expected back in early 2026. In June, the airline added a leased Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraftits first wide-body addition in seven years supporting route expansion.
Route rationalisation, revised scheduling and enhanced digital sales channels have enabled revenue growth. Adjusted timings on routes to Bangalore, Kochi and Hyderabad aim to capture growing demand from the Indian leisure market. From July, the airline increased frequencies to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok with double daily services, while also adding four weekly flights to Dubai.
Dynamic capacity management deploying aircraft based on demand has also supported growth. In the first five months of the 2025/26 financial year, passenger revenue rose 10%, passenger numbers climbed 22%, and capacity expanded by 10%.
To strengthen its brand, SriLankan has rolled out several digital and onboard innovations. These include wireless inflight entertainment, the AI-powered chatbot ‘Yaana’ for personalised digital engagement, and smart airport self-service options. Passenger surveys have shown rising satisfaction levels following these upgrades.
The airline reiterated that safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority as it navigates the next phase of recovery. With its five-year plan, SriLankan aims to chart a path toward financial and operational resilience, while positioning itself competitively in the region’s aviation market
