The SriLankan strategy sets a clear five-year course to restore financial stability and recover from recent fleet disruptions, while expanding capacity and improving passenger experience.
SriLankan strategy focuses on debt restructuring, fleet recovery and growth while boosting on-time performance
SriLankan Airlines today unveiled a five-year strategic plan that places financial stability at the centre of its recovery and growth agenda. The airline said the SriLankan strategy will combine ongoing debt restructuring with targeted fleet expansion, strengthened maintenance capabilities, sustainability measures and digital upgrades to deliver a more reliable passenger experience.
Over the past year the carrier has prioritised operational resilience. Management says it optimised fleet management, rationalised routes and implemented cost-rationalisation measures while restructuring debt to reduce financing pressure. Those actions helped lift on-time performance to 74 percent this year from 69 percent in 2024, an improvement the airline attributes to more agile scheduling and revised maintenance turnarounds despite global engine and spare-parts shortages.
Improvements to ground and engineering capability are central to the plan. New in-house calibration, testing and inspection facilities have reduced dependence on external providers and shortened maintenance cycles. The airline also adopted proactive scheduling, maintenance staggering and more precise spare-parts stocking to limit aircraft downtime. Two aircraft that were grounded for an extended period due to engine availability have returned to service, and a third is expected to rejoin operations early next year.
Capacity expansion complements these operational moves. In June the carrier inducted a leased Airbus A330-200 wide-body to broaden long-haul capacity. From July 2025 SriLankan introduced double daily services to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and added four extra flights to Dubai to better match demand on key leisure and business corridors. The network adjustments also included revised timings on several Indian routes — notably Bangalore, Kochi and Hyderabad — to capture growing traffic in the region.
Early financial indicators suggest the measures are taking hold. During the first five months of the 2025/26 financial year the airline recorded a 10 percent increase in passenger revenue, a 22 percent rise in passenger numbers and a 10 percent growth in capacity, signaling stronger demand and more efficient seat utilisation.
Looking ahead, the SriLankan strategy emphasises balancing short-term recovery with long-term sustainability. That balance will rely on completing debt restructuring, continuing to modernise the fleet, and integrating global sustainability practices alongside technological upgrades to improve sales platforms and customer touchpoints. If successfully executed, the airline’s five-year plan aims to restore profitability while delivering more dependable services for travellers across the region.