SriLankan management and pilots at loggerheads

• Says 257 pilots at present is a number sufficient to meet its operational requirements
• But pilots claim at least 330 more needed to function at full capacity
• Claims resignations have however resulted in a complete depletion of pilots

Amidst allegations against the management of Sri Lankan Airlines by the Airline Pilot Guild of Sri Lanka (APGL), the national carrier yesterday claimed its current number of pilots in service are sufficient to meet its operational requirements of a reduced fleet and keep average crew flying hours well within global standards.

“57 pilot resignations have been recorded from early 2021 to now including some early retirements, and a few more exits can be anticipated. Prior to the pandemic, SriLankan Airlines employed 320 pilots for a fleet of 27 aircraft. The airline has 257 pilots at present, a number sufficient to meet its operational requirements of a reduced fleet and keep average crew flying hours well within global standards,” it claimed.

However, issuing a release the APGSL said the pilots of the airline have been left in the lurch as a result of a spate of decisions by the Management of the airline compelling them to be overworked.

“The Airline requires at least 330 pilots to function in full capacity for the designated flights. However, over 70 pilots have resigned from the airline in the last year (2022- 2023) with many more resignations pending due to the issues faced by the pilots. This has resulted in a complete depletion of pilots,” the organisation said.

As evidence for its accusations, the APGSL said the severity of the issue was witnessed in the recent incident where there were no pilots on standby to be assigned to a flight which eventually departed more than 12 hours later than the scheduled time of departure.

However, SriLankan claimed the incident occurred only due to the sudden unavailability of scheduled crew and replacements.

“SriLankan Airlines is aware that it must increase the technical crew numbers in line with the planned expansion of its fleet. The airline is already training new cadet pilots, and in the process of hiring pilots, having advertised both locally and internationally,” it said.

The APGSL however also noted the low wages and salary cuts experienced by the pilots. The APGSL said the pilots tolerated the salary cuts in order to support the airline to generate revenue.

“However, despite all other departments in the airline being given increments and ex-gratia payments the pilots are yet to receive a substantial part of their contractually due salary package which was in place before the COVID outbreak. These are despite predictions by the Chief Executive Officer of the Airline promising a profit of 50 million USD this year,” they said.

“It is obvious that we as individuals and professionals focussed on flight safety, cannot be expected to sustain the extra burden on each individual which the airline now demands as a result of its own folly,” the organisation said. The APGSL said urged stakeholders of the airline to take notice of the many issues and resolve the matters expeditiously.