Grounded Sri Lankan low-cost carrier Mihin Lanka is hoping to re-launch services as early as next month and is now considering leasing Boeing 737-800s in addition to Airbus A320s.
Government-owned Mihin Lanka launched operations in April last year but suspended services earlier this year after it was forced to return its wet-leased Airbus A320-family aircraft to the owner.
Since then it has said it hopes to re-launch operations and it has been looking informally for A320s to dry lease.
It has now issued a formal request for proposals (RFP) seeking either A320s or 737-800s and says it hopes for delivery by 1 October.
Mihin Lanka says in its RFP that offers will be received until 16 September and it wants between one and three aircraft.
It says that if it acquires aircraft on wet-lease they must be on initial three-month terms, with options to extend or convert into dry leases for "12 to 24 months or beyond". It will also accept offers for aircraft on a "lease to purchase basis", with a lease term of between five and 10 years.
Mihin Lanka has said it hopes to reinstate services to destinations it served before its grounding, specifically Singapore, Bangkok in Thailand, Dubai in the UAE, Male in the Maldives, and Bodh Gaya, Trichi and Trivandrum in India.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
