UL is coming to Melbourne!

[wandering_fred]

Obviously UL has missed the chance to land at the new QF long haul airport of PER.

UL's A330s are fine. As good as QF or CX.
I would price fares either ex LHR or ex CMB if I had the opportunity.
Hotel prices in Sri Lanka have increased a lot in the last 5-7 years as the country recovers from the civil war. But on the whole are bargains.
QFF SCs will continue to reflect the penalties for using partners on the Kangaroo route.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[ncm]

Perfect timing. I was looking for somewhere to meet the British in-laws that had to a) have direct flights from MEL and LON, be a beach destination and have reasonably cheap accommodation (and beer). Fits this perfectly.Now to wait for pricing or award seat loading. Not sure where to find that considering the news isn't even on the UL website (probably hear it here first I'm guessing). Am assuming MEL-CMB at 5190 miles will be 42k/78k QFF points. Hopefully they open up 4xJ on the wide body.

 

[emirates777]

SriLankan airlines is in a bad way financially. The airline continues to bleed money and are being held together by the Govt. I say there is a better chance of them going bust then them flying to Melbourne. So don't get too excited guys.

 

[wandering_fred]

OTOH the government fully understands that the recovery of the country is and will be in a large part based on tourism. Consider the stopover packages that are being offered. And I would hope that they have looked at the loads exCMB to Australia on the QF and MH code shares. The thing that aggravates me is that it is normally less expensive to fly CMB->MEL than CMB->PER. And of course, exAustralia is a lot more expensive than ex CMB.

As with many things political, time will tell.

Just wandering

Fred

 

[Mattg]

The schedule has been announced. Flights will start on 29 October and will be on A330-200s with older-style J seats.

UL604 CMB 23:50 - MEL 15:25+1
UL605 MEL 16:55 - CMB 22:15

SriLankan launches Colombo-Melbourne nonstop beginning in October | Australian Aviation

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

The schedule doesn't look too bad, although a red eye departing CMB, but that is life for most flights departing Asia onwards to Australia.

 

[Quickstatus]

Don't forget that UL is financially stressed and are looking for a white knight to bail them out. EK /UL JV was good while it lasted but then EK took their bat home when the government tried to meddle in its operations and now UL is asking EK to reconsider after private equity TPG had a look and ran off at TOGA speed.

 

[dajop]

The schedule doesn't look too bad, although a red eye departing CMB, but that is life for most flights departing Asia onwards to Australia.

Seems to be well timed for connections to the major Indian cities too, connects well to/from BOM, MAA, BLR & DEL. So obviously after some of the connecting traffic (assuming they can sell such traffic).

 

[moa999]

Don't forget that UL is financially stressed and are looking for a white knight to bail them out. EK /UL JV was good while it lasted but then EK took their bat home when the government tried to meddle in its operations and now UL is asking EK to reconsider after private equity TPG had a look and ran off at TOGA speed.

Meddle - by redirecting aircraft to pick up govt officials and kicking off fare paying passengers.

Maybe they should merge with Air India - both seem to be similar basket cases.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL4N1I748H

Actually earnt my first EK points flying on UL, well before it ever joined oneworld

 

[Quickstatus]

Meddle - by redirecting aircraft to pick up govt officials and kicking off fare paying passengers.

Maybe they should merge with Air India - both seem to be similar basket cases.
TPG pulls out of SriLankan Airlines bid talks - airline chairman | Reuters

Actually earnt my first EK points flying on UL, well before it ever joined oneworld

Yes and more than just that specific meddling episode.
But why do people want to herald a poorly run airline with political interference such as this?. Surely such business operations cannot be stable financially to ensure fulfilment of bookings nor safe.

 

[Melburnian1]

I hope their widebody staff on board are better than the A320 staff I had on a return SIN - CMB a couple of years ago.

 

[Austman]

The airfare has been announced:

daily-flights-to-colombo

Special fares starting from AUD 786

Business class seems to be AUD 3,740

Business class MEL to LHR is AUD 6,215 and should qualify for a free transit stop hotel in CMB in each direction.

MEL-CMB is the A330-200. CMB-LHR is the A330-300.

 

[Austman]

I've usually done a combo Y/J booking. Y to SE-Asia (eg with QF) and J from SE-Asia to LHR (with UL). That usually prices to under $3,500.

 

[dajop]

But why do people want to herald a poorly run airline with political interference such as this?. Surely such business operations cannot be stable financially to ensure fulfilment of bookings nor safe.

There are other well known airlines that have a good amount of political interference as well. But they are larger, so tend to run as smooth as silk

 

[bobe]

We're doing a combine Y/J flights in July Y to Bk then J to Colombo /Heathrow return$2900, there J product is as good as you will get.

 

[Pushka]

We're doing a combine Y/J flights in July Y to Bk then J to Colombo /Heathrow return$2900, there J product is as good as you will get.

We are doing J from LHR to Colombo in a few weeks as an award flight on UL then Colombo - HKG - Adelaide as a paid for one. First leg being UL the second being CX. Looking forward to this.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Anyone know what their DONE 4/5 pricing is like? Either ex-CMB or elsewhere?

I tried to work it out about 12 months ago but didn't get very far.

 

[defurax]

Anyone know what their DONE 4/5 pricing is like? Either ex-CMB or elsewhere?

I tried to work it out about 12 months ago but didn't get very far.

Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Fare Information Search:

Departing CMB on 18/10/17 for CMB
Flying UL
Purchasing at CMB
Viewing in currency AUD
Validated Results

Fare Basis Airline Booking Trip Type Fare Cabin Effective Expiration Min/Max Advanced
Class Date Date Stay Purchase Req

IGLOB26 UL I Round-Trip 8448.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
IONE3 UL I Round-Trip 8448.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONE3 UL D Round-Trip 9707.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONEWC3 UL D Round-Trip 9707.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DGLOB34 UL D Round-Trip 10391.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONE4 UL D Round-Trip 10391.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONEWC4 UL D Round-Trip 10391.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONE5 UL D Round-Trip 11235.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M
DONE6 UL D Round-Trip 12358.00 (AUD) B -- / 12M

 

[Jacques Vert]

Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Fare Information Search:

Thanks for that.

I'll have to get better at using Expert Flyer.

 

[defurax]

Thanks for that.

I'll have to get better at using Expert Flyer.

This is a particularity of RTW and Circle fares search using EF. From EF FAQs:

RTW (Around the World) and Circle fares will be displayed in the response screen if the Departing Airport andArriving Airport are the same. This can be searched by a specific alliance by entering in a member airline of thatalliance.The fares shown do not include and taxes, airport fees or security surcharges. So, they will be slightly lower fromthe fare you will actually pay should you buy a particular fare.