Aviation
Etihad & Emirates keen on acquiring stake in SriLankan Airlines
The CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines claims that the airline is ready for privatization and that it has turned a profit for the first time in fifteen years. Investors from a variety of industries, including the aviation and non-aviation sectors, are interested in purchasing a portion of Sri Lankan Airlines.
A request for qualification (RFQ) has been sent out to draw in possible investors. With almost 99% of the airline presently held by the Sri Lankan government, the sale is expected to be completed by June of next year.
Businesses from many nations, including India, are thinking about making investments. In September, speculations were mentioning Tata Sons, the Adani Group, and Emirates as possible suitors. However, Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, denied these reports.
Richard Nuttall also mentioned that Gulf operators would gain a great deal from the airline’s convenient access to its neighbour in Asia. “India is the big prize for everybody,” he declared. He hinted that airlines such as Emirates, which formerly held 40 percent of SriLankan, may be among those that comply with the Colombo government’s desire to privatise the airline.
With 23 Airbus planes and flights to 39 international locations, SriLankan Airlines is a major carrier of passengers between Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lankan designated carriers have unlimited access to most Indian cities, including major metropolitan regions, based on a merely liberal air services agreement between Sri Lanka and India.
