SriLankan issues RFPs for new aircraft

SriLankan Airlines has issued several Requests for Proposals on its website in which the airline seeks new aircraft to replace older aircraft in the fleet as well for expansion. In total, the airline is seeking up to 42 aircraft, broken-down in four different RFPs.

The first RFP is seeking up to eleven regional jets, with types specified as the Airbus A220-100, -300 and/or the Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2. Deliveries should take place between December 2022 and April 2025.

The second RFP is focusing on new narrowbody aircraft and seeking lease proposals for eleven Airbus A320(neo)-family aircraft. Deliveries should also occur in the December 2022-April 2025 timeframe.

The third RFP is looking for up to ten A330s, either A330-200s and/or -300s. Deliveries of these should happen between December 2022-October 2025.

The final RFP is looking for next-generation widebody aircraft, in total up to ten aircraft. Accepted types are the A330-800, -900, A350-900 from Airbus and the B787-9 and -10 from Boeing. Deliveries should happen between December 2022 and October 2025.

According to the RFPs, all leases should, initially, be for six years with the possibility to extend the leases. The exact number of aircraft and types will be defined once the airline has received all bids on its requests.

Currently, SriLankan Airlines operates a fleet of five A320s, two A320neos, one A321, four A321neos, five A330-200s and seven A330-300s. It also has four A350-900s on order with Airbus, so it's unclear what will happen with this order if the airline signs new leases.

Photo by Anton Homma.