Tag Archives: Ashok Pathirage

SriLankan Airlines turns 45, celebrating a trailblazing journey that took off on September 1, 1979, with just two Boeing 707 aircraft. A pioneer in the region, the airline has always remained resilient in the face of turbulence and has consistently championed true Sri Lankan hospitality globally. Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever-evolving and testing environment. Today, SriLankan continues to be one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way. Key Milestones and Achievements: 1979 – Launch of Air Lanka with two Boeing 707 aircraft (1st September) 1979 – Maiden flight to Bangkok on 1st September 1979 – Services are launched to Bahrain, Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Paris, Zurich, Madras and Male 1980 – Launch of Air Lanka Catering Ltd 1980 – First Lockheed L1011 Tristar acquired 1984 – Boeing 747-200 acquired 1990 – Air Lanka becomes a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association) 1990 – Three Ilyushin IL-86’s leased to operate mercy flights for Sri Lankans fleeing Gulf War 1991 – First international airline to obtain IATA accreditation for its Centre for Training 1992 – Launched frequent flyer programme “The Serendib Club” 1993 – First Airbus A320-200 acquired 1994 – First Airbus A340 acquired, becoming the first in South Asia to operate Airbus A340 1998 – Enters into a strategic partnership with Emirates 1999 – Air Lanka rebranded as SriLankan Airlines 1999 – First Airbus A330-200 acquired 2000 – Phased out Lockheed Tristars for an all-Airbus fleet 2000 – The cargo arm rebranded as ‘SriLankan Cargo’ and as a separate entity 2000 – SriLankan Cargo launches dedicated freighter service using Antonov AN12F …

Ashok Pathirage, Chairman, SriLankan Airlines, has said that as Sri Lanka plans to reopen its borders, SriLankan Airlines, is expected to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery. In addition, they will be focused on their expansion goals for 2020, with plans to add destinations such as Sydney, Incheon and Chengdu to its network in the coming months. “However, the Airline’s primary focus will be reconnecting with and consolidating its position in key markets such as India, China, the United Kingdom and other major destinations,” said Pathirage.