Feb 28 2024: Several SriLankan Airlines flights at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake were delayed while three flights were grounded this week – one due to a reported sighting of a rat onboard – leaving serious questions over the national carrier’s long term future and a government minister issuing a stark ultimatum.

The airline is yet to disclose the reasons for the latest cancellations, however, the national carrier has been hit with a spate of technical issues in recent weeks

Based on the airport’s flight leaderboard, SriLankan Airlines (UL) 207 to Abu Dhabi, UL 263 to Dammam, and UL 143 to Mumbai were canceled on Tuesday (27). Meanwhile, UL 470 to Incheon, UL 265 to Riyadh, UL 225 to Dubai and UL 103 to Male was delayed until further notice on the same day.

Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage revealed that at a rat onboard at least one of the passenger jets led to the aircraft being grounded for three days. He added that if the rodent had damaged any of the wires, it would have posed a safety issue. Just weeks ago, a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Melbourne, Australia, that was bound for Colombo was forced to U-turn, following technical difficulties.

The delays and complaints prompted the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nirmal Siripala de Silva to issue an ultimatum to the management at SriLankan airlines stressing the urgent need to improve operational procedures or face permanent grounding.


https://www.tamilguardian.com/conten...sues-ultimatum