SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) is planning to convert its existing order for four A350-900s to A330-900s as a part of its restructuring plan, CEO Vipula Gunatilleka told Air Transport World.

Besides the conversion, the carrier also plans to grow its fleet in both the narrowbody and widebody segments.

"Our fleet would grow from current twenty-seven to thirty-four and we would end up by 2023-2024 with nineteen widebody and fifteen narrowbody aircraft," Gunatilleka said.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the carrier currently operates thirteen narrowbody aircraft (five A320-200s, two A320-200neo, two A321-200s, and four A321-200neo) and fourteen widebodies (seven A330-200s and seven A330-300s).

The airline's approach towards the A350-900s has been critical for a while. SriLankan initially signed an MoU for four such aircraft in 2013 and then increased the number to eight ordered from Airbus. However, it later cancelled half of the order at a cost of LKR18.8 billion rupees (USD105 million).

The restructuring plan also assumes establishing an intercontinental hub at Colombo International. The airline is mulling new flights to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Ho Chi Minh City, Frankfurt International, Paris CDG, Sydney Kingsford Smith, and Kathmandu.