UL records first profitable month since onset of pandemic

• Records US$ 9.25mn company level and US$ 10.66mn group level profit in Dec.2021
• Operates 800 flights carrying 228,203 passengers in Dec., up 13 times compared to Dec. 2020
• Airlifts 7,877 MT of cargo, almost 150% increase from Dec. 2020
• SriLankan Chairman Ashok Pathirage says future remains extremely challenging with new virus variants 

SriLankan Airlines yesterday said it reported a company level profit of US$ 9.25 million and a group level profit of US$ 10.66 million for December 2021, which is the first profitable month for the airline since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. 

 The revenues were up by almost 200 percent compared with the same period last year and had reached over 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level. 

Further, the airline reported a profit of US$ 11.43 million for December 2021 at air transportation level, which is the highest recorded profit from air transportation in over 20 years.

“The sacrifices made by all our staff members have paved the way for a positive start for the New Year. During the past two years, we implemented multifaceted initiatives to reduce operational costs, for which each and every employee of the SriLankan family contributed, and we are reaping the benefits of our efforts today,” SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage said.   “The future, however, it remains extremely challenging with the spread of the new variant of the virus and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary action to ensure that the momentum achieved in December continues,” he added.

SriLankan operated close to 800 flights during the month and carried a total of 228,203 passengers – in excess of 13 times the number of passengers carried in December 2020. 
Further, SriLankan uplifted a total of 7,877 metric tonnes of cargo, which is a 147 percent increase from December 2020.

SriLankan Airlines has been fraught with challenges over the past three years starting with the Easter Sunday attacks in April 2019 that led to a decline in tourist arrivals in the immediate aftermath, followed by the onset of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, which is now entering into its third year.   Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, SriLankan has maintained its commitment to support the national economy, bringing tourism, connecting business, carrying freight and earning foreign exchange. 

In the past year, SriLankan launched operations to several new destinations including to Seoul, Nairobi, Moscow, Paris, and Kathmandu as the pandemic showed signs of slowing and borders gradually opened.