Sri Lankan Airlines Delays/ Cancellations

On Thursday 16 July 2020, still during the pandemic, UL600, a super early morning 0505 hours to SYD and then on to CMB at 0755 hours was cancelled.
 
A week later than the past post, UL600 at an identical time from MEL but apparently at 2230 tonight ex SYD was again cancelled.

The ban on revenue passengers arriving from overseas into MEL means few international airlines are operating into the southern city. SYD and BNE don't have a 'ban' inbound, but they have very severe restrictions as to how many passengers are allowed per flight and in total per day from all operators.
 
On Christmas Eve 2020, UL605, the late night 2315 hours MEL - CMB is expected to depart 80 late so it will be one of MEL's first Christmas Day departures.
 
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The 2210 hours SYD up to CMB, UL607, has been cancelled on Sunday 11 April 2021. UL has been a fairly constant visitor to SYD and prior to the Victorian Government's travel ban on inwards international passengers, MEL in recent months, having operated more international passenger flights into and out of Oz than so-called 'flag carrier' QFi.
 
On Friday 7 May 2021 during coronavirus, UL605 was meant to depart MEL at 2130 mid evening for CMB. This displayed on the MEL airport website as 'cancelled'.

However A333 4R-ALO became an 0700 hours on Saturday 8, taking off at 0719 with suggested arrival at 1317 hours, 572 minutes tardy.
 
Friday 14 May 2021 had UL604 (A333 4R-ALP, the 1510 hours CMB down to MEL) not airborne until 1832 hours, so on Saturday 15 expected arrival is 0826 hours, 176 minutes late.
 
UL606, the Friday 5 November 2021 CMB to SYD due to depart at 1530 (A333 4R-ALM) was not airborne until 1714 hours so on Saturday 6, arrival should be at 0819 hours,m 49 minutes tardy.
 
On Saturday 27 November 2021, UL607, the 1730 hours late afternoon SYD across to CMB is predicted to depart at 1945, 135 minutes tardy.
 
UL606 from CMB to SYD is arriving on Saturday 4 December 2021 with A333 4R-ALP at 0802 hours, 87 minutes late. UL607 back to Sri Lanka, the 0805 hours is predicted to depart SYD at 0915 which seems a tad optimistic.
 
UL605, the unattractively timed 0430 hours MEL - CMB on Monday 20 December 2021 was cancelled.

Will this become even more common with the Omicron panic?
 
UL607 (A333 4R-ALP, the 0805 hours Saturday 22 January 2022 SYD - CMB) was not airborne until 1022, so suggested arrival is 1525 hours, 110 minutes behind schedule.
 
On Tuesday 29 March 2022, UL605 (1710 hours MEL - CMB) is expected to depart 80 minutes late at 1830 hours. This is due to UL604 inbound being suggested as arriving at 1705 instead of mid afternoon at 1540 hours.
 
A333 4R-ALM on UL606, the 0005 hours Friday 1 April 2022 CMB down to SYD took off at 0144 hours. Suggested at gate arrival is 1718 hours, 83 minutes late. This will delay UL607, the 1710 hours back to CMB to an expected 1845 hours departure, 95 minutes late.

The time allowed between at gate arrival and pushback is insufficient, so no surprise that the outbound flight is often late.
 
UL607 on Tuesday 5 April 2022 (1610 hours SYD - CMB) is predicted to depart 80 minutes late. This is due to UL606, the 0005 hours ex CMB being forecast to arrive SYD at 1601 this afternoon, 66 late.
 
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Pre-COVID when UL only flew to and ex MEL as far as Oz goes, my memory suggests it had a very good timekeeping record.

Granted, it can't control wet weather but its SYD punctuality has become poor.

On Friday 8 April 2022, UL607 (A333 4R-ALL), the 1610 hours, took off at 1803 so arrival should be 0004 hours on Saturday 9, 69 minutes behind schedule. The aircraft had much earlier today taken off from CMB at 0135, arriving SYD at 1616, 81 late.

Maybe it's because connecting flights run late, or even due to Sri Lanka's huge economic problems.

I have been there a few years ago: a most enjoyable place for a holiday, so sad to see the travails the populace is enduring if media is correct.
 
On Tuesday 12 April 2022, A333 4R-ALL on UL606, the 0005 hours just after midnight CMB - SYD took off at 0056, so arrival this afternoon should be at 1535 hours, 40 minutes late. This may well delay UL607 returning to CMB.

UL605 (1610 hours MEL - CMB, A333 4R-ALO) on Tuesday was in the sky at 1711. Predicted at gate arrival becomes 2309 hours, 44 minutes late.
 
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UL606 (A333 4R-ALM) that is the 0005 hours CMB - SYD on Friday 22 April may have had a 'false start' but in the end took off at 0313 hours with arrival suggested as 1729 hours, 69 minutes tardy. This will delay the return flight to Sri Lanka.
 
UL605 (1610 hours MEL - CMB on Sunday 24 April, A333 4R-ALN took off at 1743 so predicted at gate arrival becomes 2319 hours late tonight local time, 54 minutes tardy. The inbound (UL604) had arrived five minutes early at 1435 this afternoon so not sure why the delay to 'the 605'.
 
A333 4R-ALP, the 0005 hours politically lettered UL 605 from CMB down to SYD did not become airborne until 0249 hours on Tuesday 10 May 2022. Arrival at gate should shortly occur at 1714 hours, 139 minutes tardy. This will delay UL606, the returning flight to Sri Lanka.
 

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