Back with another flight and another first time.
In 1979, after the removal of airline manager Nimesh Fernando, Sri Lanka’s president Jayawardene initially did not interfere after entrusting the airline to Captain Rakitha Wickramanayake and the board of directors consisting of industry officials and managers. The former Prime Minister of Singapore asked, “How could an airline pilot run an airline?” A 1986 Presidential Commission reported on the mismanagement of the board of the airline under President Wijetunga’s appointment of a retired General as Chairman/MD with Air Vice Marshals and a UNP attorney as executive directors. None of them knew how to run an airline.
Air Lanka was established as the flag carrier of Sri Lanka once the government shut down the bankrupt Air Ceylon. Air Lanka’s initial fleet consisted of two Boeing 707, leased from Singapore Airlines. One Boeing 737 was leased from Maersk Air and maintained by Air Tara. On 24 April 1980, the lease ended; Air Lanka received a replacement Boeing 737 leased from Royal Brunei. On 1 November 1980, Air Lanka commenced wide-body operations which were leased Lockheed L1011-1 Tristar aircraft from Air Canada.
On 15 April 1982, Air Lanka purchased an L1011 Tristar from All Nippon Airways. Another L1011 was leased from Air Canada whilst a third was purchased from All Nippon. With the introduction of Tristar aircraft, the Boeing 707 were phased out. On 1 May 1982, HAECO took over the maintenance of the two Air Lanka-owned Tristars, while Air Canada maintained two leased Tristars.
On 28 March 1980, Air Lanka signed a purchase agreement for two brand new Lockheed L1011-500 Tristars, the most advanced wide-body aircraft in the world at that time. The first Lockheed L1011-500 (4R-ULA) was accepted on 26 August 1982, at Palmdale, California. It was flown to Amsterdam as UL flight 566P. On 28 August, 4R-ULA “City of Colombo” left for its inaugural flight from Amsterdam to Colombo as UL566. It reached Colombo on 29 August. This was followed by the second Lockheed L1011-500, 4R-ULB, “City of Jayawardanapura”. On 8 June 1984, the airline received its first Boeing 747-200B “King Vijaya” and the second joined later. The aircraft were used on flights to Europe and a few flights to southeast Asia. However, they were retired in 1987. In 1994, Air Lanka became the Asian Launch Customer of the Airbus A340-300.
Flight Info
Aircraft: A330-300
Flight time: 08hr 57min
Route: EDDF - VCBI
(Frankfurt am Main - Colombo)
Server: Expert
Thanks for stopping by.