SriLankan Airlines has grounded three of its aircraft due to the lack of funds for engine repairs. The aircraft have been grounded for several months, Sri Lanka’s civil aviation minister Nimal Siripala de Silva informed during a parliamentary session.
He further urged for options of restructuring or privatisation of the airline as the airline is already under a debt of $1.2bn.
Three A320 aircraft are grounded due to a combination of issues like reliability problems with the new technology CFM LEAP engines, payment issues due to pandemic and financial condition in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, even though the aircraft are grounded, the airline is obliged to make lease payments sinking the airline in further debt.
Just last week, SriLankan Airlines defaulted on its $175 million bond, having failed to amend the terms of the debt.