SriLankan Airlines to fly to MEL

[soorox]

UL have entered proposed schedules for a new x4 weekly MEL-CMB service using A330-300 aircraft. Very exciting and a new OW option for Australians! :mrgreen:

Colombo – Melbourne UL proposes 4 weekly A330-300 service from 02NOV15. This filing is only listed in the OAG, therefore reservation is not available
UL601 CMB0100 – 1630MEL 333 x237
UL602 MEL1800 – 2300CMB 333 x237

SriLankan Airlines S15/W15 Operation Changes as of 13FEB15 | Airline Route

 

[JessicaTam]

It will interesting to see what their prices are like. EU ex SIN are pretty good.

 

[cmon0005]

I wonder if QF will codeshare with them on this route? considering they are code-sharing on the SIN-CMB route now.

What's more disturbing is this!: SriLankan Airlines / Jetstar Asia to Launch Codeshare Partnership from April 2015 | Airline Route

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I wonder if QF will codeshare with them on this route? considering they are code-sharing on the SIN-CMB route now.

What's more disturbing is this!: SriLankan Airlines / Jetstar Asia to Launch Codeshare Partnership from April 2015 | Airline Route

why are you disturbed?

 

[cmon0005]

why are you disturbed?

I thought that would have been obvious, why they would want to code-share with J*!!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I thought that would have been obvious, why they would want to code-share with J*!!

To increase passenger loads and offer more connections.

 

[cmon0005]

To increase passenger loads and offer more connections.

well yes... but its full service to budget LCC connection.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It will interesting to see what their prices are like. EU ex SIN are pretty good.

Indeed... however Air India also offers(ed) sub $2000 fares ex SIN (in fact last year they were as low as AUD1500 return), but their prices to India are in the same ball park as QF (~$4700) and to Europe at around AUD6000.

Possibly some launch specials to Europe on UL though!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

well yes... but its full service to budget LCC connection.

American, Qantas and Emirates also codeshare with jetstar. There isnt any other sin based airline to codeshare with other than sq who are the competition.

 

[wandering_fred]

The CMB-KUL-PER flights (code share with MH) are significantly less expensive than the flights PER-KUL-CMB. The difference being in the economy fare classes that are available for sale at the origination point. I expect the MEL-CMB flights to be less expensive than MH MEL-KUL-CMB (and likely to credit to partners better) but cheap is a relative term.

Now for those mythical CMB-PER flights :-|

No doubt that is wandering

Fred

 

[Isochronous]

Great news for MEL!

 

[zainman]

Great to have a new *O option. Hopefully they thrive and then upgauge to A350! Also hoping the A330's they fly have the CX J seat...

 

[defurax]

Great to have a new *O option. Hopefully they thrive and then upgauge to A350! Also hoping the A330's they fly have the CX J seat...

They entered the A333 in the schedule. All UL 333 are herringbone J seats.

 

[defurax]

Great to have a new *O option. Hopefully they thrive and then upgauge to A350! Also hoping the A330's they fly have the CX J seat...

A bit OT, but just received an alert from EF that my LHR-CMB flight is now operated by the new 333. Though there is still plenty of time for it to change again...
Here's the seat map from MMB.

 

[drdpr]

It will be interesting to see how this schedules to linking up with flights to Male (Maldives). It is still a sore point with me there is nothing direct from Australia. Ideally you need an arrival of lunchtime latest in CMB to ensure a quick transit flight to arrive mid afternoon in MLE and ensure you can make the 5pm cut off times for the islands by sea plane.

 

[soorox]

It will be interesting to see how this schedules to linking up with flights to Male (Maldives). It is still a sore point with me there is nothing direct from Australia. Ideally you need an arrival of lunchtime latest in CMB to ensure a quick transit flight to arrive mid afternoon in MLE and ensure you can make the 5pm cut off times for the islands by sea plane.

Mega Maldives was proposing MEL-MLE services using its fleet of 767's, I'm not sure if they plan to pursue with the plans. UL602 arrives in CMB at 23:00, the next flight, UL105 to MLE departs at 00:15, however that would be too late for island hoping, you would need to spend the night in Male or Colombo

 

[TomVexille]

Not surprising with the massive Sri Lankan population here in MEL

 

[Timba-Jet]

Great to have a new *O option. Hopefully they thrive and then upgauge to A350! Also hoping the A330's they fly have the CX J seat...

Agree, Australia (not all parts) to LHR/Europe is very well served by *O members. With CX, MH, JL, BA, QR, and now UL. Plus there are the AY services with codeshares Asia-OZ.

More choices for us QFF/*O addicts.

 

[smit0847]

Does anyone know if this is ever going to happen?!

 

[soorox]

Does anyone know if this is ever going to happen?!

Unfortunately the date of 02NOV is incorrect, UL will start somewhere in 1H of 2016, we should hear something in the coming months.