February 02, Colombo (LNW): Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SriLankan Airlines, responded to concerns regarding flight delays, acknowledging that while delays are within global averages, an increase has been noted due to technical issues, according to a report by Daily Mirror.
Nuttall emphasised that flight delays are a common occurrence for every airline, and the reported delays, while in line with industry standards, are sometimes perceived as more significant than they are.
Drawing a comparison, he noted that delays experienced by other international carriers, such as Qatar Airways, might not receive the same level of media attention.
Highlighting SriLankan Airlines’ on-time performance, Nuttall stated that it surpasses the average performance of Oneworld carriers.
He explained that aircraft maintenance, particularly when dealing with Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations, is regulated by strict manuals and checks and balances.
Nuttall pointed out a current challenge faced by the aviation industry, where delays are exacerbated by difficulties in obtaining spare parts promptly. He cited an example of a routine check in December where corrosion was detected, requiring the replacement of a part.
Traditionally, neighboring airlines could provide the spare part within 24 hours, but due to recent challenges, the required part had to be manufactured by an alternative organisation, extending the repair time from a standard 24 or 48 hours to two weeks.
The CEO clarified that such extended repair times are not unique to SriLankan Airlines and have been experienced by airlines globally. Nuttall referred to a challenging period in December, describing it as a “perfect storm” where multiple factors contributed to prolonged maintenance delays.
