Economy cabin passengers on yesterdays SriLankan Airlines flight from Colombo to London were deprived of inflight entertainment on the long haul sector, as headsets were not loaded on board for passengers.
Dion Jansz
Furious passengers who traveled on UL 503 and who were deprived of this basic facility have now demanded compensation of up to 200 Sterling Pounds each. The airline would stand to lose a whopping sum of 53,800 pounds if in the event this is to be honored.
Sources confirmed that the airline was forced to source headsets in London for the return flight, as head sets are usually loaded by SriLankan Catering ex Colombo for both flights.
However it is still to be established if this was an act of sabotage committed by Flight Purser and Union Secretary Dion Jansz who operated the flight to London. The flight was originally scheduled to be operated by Cabin Manager and unelected FAU President Adrian Cramer who swapped his duty with Jansz.
It is reported that Cabin Manager Cramer and his secretary Jansz had categorically refused the posting of Cabin Managers to be based in Paksitan much to the chagrin of all Cabin Managers of SriLankan Airlines which was a pre-requisite requirement of Pakistan International Airlines who had provided a lucrative wet lease opportunity. This has led to SriLankan Airlines having to send Cabin Supervisors and Cabin Service Instructors instead to fulfill this requirement. The wet lease operation commences tomorrow with flights operated from Islamabad and Lahore to London where Pakistan International Airlines has already taken delivery of Sri Lankan Airlines aircraft.
A member of the Flight Attendants Union speaking of condition of anonymity as she is not permitted to speak to the media said “It is very upsetting to know that our passengers were deprived of in flight entertainment on this flight to London. We have to investigate this too to find out if this was done willfully to punish the management by the team that has forcefully taken it upon themselves to represent us as a union. We in fact never voted them in to assume office in the first place. Further there is sexual discrimination and gender bias with regards to the airline’s stance in basing our Flight Attendants in Pakistan during this wet lease phase. Whilst Pakistan International Airlines has not specified that they want only all male crew, SriLankan Airlines is depriving us female Flight Attendants of an equal opportunity by not rostering us to be based in Pakistan along with our male colleagues.”
Members of the Flight Attendants Union (FAU) commenced a signature campaign yesterday to oust their current un-elected group of FAU Executive Committee Members headed by Flight Purser Adrian Cramer. It is reported that over 150 members have signed a ‘no confidence’ letter so far which is currently ongoing in their Katunayake office. Members of the FAU are seeking to obtain sufficient signatures to oust Cramer and his team.
AB / August 13, 2016
“Furious passengers were deprived of this basic facility (headphone set!)”
Sorry. I just woke up from a deep sleep. Now supplying headphone set is a basic facility? I thought it was a courtesy service to spoiled brats.
Remind Mama next time to pack a headset with your pacifier!
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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / August 13, 2016
This is making it a big issue.
I flew from ABUDABI to Dusseldorf by AirBERLIN machine last week, there they did not provide us with ear phones. So this has now become common since many are used to have their own with whereever they fly.
So the JO people will make this a big issue. But we kknow the weights of the debts have left nothing from the airline to this date, it is reported, not even a single bus run on the rolling field of the Katunayake now belongs to srilanken.
That is how Brother in law ization left to this country.
Both Mihin Air and Srilanken were brought to minus income earners by the interferenece of most stupid men in Rajapakshes family.
Whatever Mahindananda the abusive men have to say, the realities are srilanken will not fly ot Frankfurt and Paris with effect from Oct 2016.
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Bagehot / August 13, 2016
You are seriously comparing a long haul Sri Lankan airlines flight with a 3 hour flight on a budget airline, and justifying this idiot’s actions thereby?
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Gayan / August 21, 2016
Good that you have woken up, at-least now.
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AJ / August 13, 2016
This year alone, I filed 3 lawsuits against Sri Lankan airlines for violations Montreal Convention and I won all three of them. The amount is not much, it was just to prove a point to them. I know it’ may be unbelievable to readers I won 3 lawsuits this year. But I am willing to email you the judgement if you give me your email (with my address crossed out). I hate this airlines with passion.
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Common srilankan / August 13, 2016
Then why do you keep flying with them. What a donkey
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AJ / August 14, 2016
Because I make more money suing them. Donkeys work hard. Smart people just use the brain. I am not expecting you to understand that. And I am flying with them this week again :)
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Nisha / August 14, 2016
AJ send me the info pls thanks
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AJ / August 15, 2016
Please provide an email for me as I can’t upload a file in this forum
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Saman Ariyaratne / August 21, 2016
please send me the law suites to samanariyaratne@yahoo.com
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Lahiru / August 14, 2016
Pse e mail me the judgments of 3 lawsuits that you won against Srilankan Airlines. Lahiru777888@Gmail.com
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AJ / August 16, 2016
I sent you an email. Please respond to confirm.
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Gayan / August 21, 2016
Funny, because according to wikipedia Sri lanka never seems to have SIGNED the Montreal convention.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Convention
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Sean / August 21, 2016
It isn’t a requirement for Sri Lanka to have signed the Montreal Convention. The law provides that if a country of origin OR destination is a party to several conventions, one of which is the Montreal Convention, the Montreal Convention will apply.
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jim softy / August 13, 2016
I think, here domestic flights charge money for heat sets.
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jim softy / August 13, 2016
However it is still to be established if this was an act of sabotage committed by Flight Purser and Union Secretary Dion Jansz who operated the flight to London. The flight was originally scheduled to be operated by Cabin Manager and unelected FAU President Adrian Cramer who swapped his duty with Jansz.
Introduce discipline by firing them. Even if the air line has to land for some dyas, it doe snot matter.
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Ahamed / August 13, 2016
Learn from the Singapore Prime minister the treatment he gave to the Singapore Airlines Pilots recently.
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moderate / August 13, 2016
What is the accountability of the crew and management? If crew can sabotage and get away, there is a problem in the management going up to the even the PM and President! When appointments are politicied, in contrast to good governance or Yahapalanaya one cannot expect any accountability akin to ‘Subha Anagatha palanaya’. Put your foot down! Suspend the bug…S hold an inquiry and sack them IF found guilty! It should be the same for anyone including ministers. No wonder Yahapalanaya has failed!
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words / August 13, 2016
First blankets, now head sets.. what’s next..no seats????
Oh heck.. let’s just blame this on the MR regime too!!!!
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harry hatton / August 13, 2016
While the Board members are enjoying all perks and comforts ! Disgusting !
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Bagehot / August 13, 2016
Did you read Ajith Dias’ interview in the FT last week? Contrary to what this (and other sites) have claimed, the man says he does not even draw a salary. I have yet to see anyone here contesting that?
Just goes to show that you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the media.
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jagath Fernando / August 15, 2016
None of the board members draws salaries.
They get a few complimentary business class tickets and that is it.
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Monara Kapothi / August 13, 2016
This is sabotage pure and simple and such saboteurs should be dismissed.This type of employee is the one that has been partly responsible for the airline’s gradual decline.However they are the first to claim privileges such as high pay ,Buissness Class lounge perks and what what not.Simply put there should be no second chance given to such vultures.In the competitive world of airline business an incident of this nature is good enough to put UL several notches down the quality index and what more it is already on the slippery slopes ,very close to the point of annihilation.
SrilankanAirlines has been politicized beyond redemption and only a totally new beginning can save it.The cancer is at level 4.Every government since its launch is guilty.But none can parallel the politicization it suffered under the Rajapaksa regime when the Chairman was a high school drop out turned failed planter,Shiranthi Rajapasa’s brother Nishantha Wickremasinghe and the CEO was the notoriously inept Kapila Chandrasena.Sajin de Vass Gonaawardena’s brother was the equally inefficient CEO before him.How can one not expect the Airline ,which started on a glorious note not to totter and fail under such circumstances ? What worst act of sabotage will we hear next on another flight?
Chairman Dias please forget about the garment buissness and Coffee Bean and run the airline well or please resign to enjoy a capuchino at your cafe.
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Govinda / August 13, 2016
SriLankan Airlines’ Flight To London Operates Without Headsets; Passengers’ Claims Exceed 53,000 Pounds
UL is earning reputation from bad to worse.
Sack them all if found guilty and stamp their records/books in red, so that no other airliners can take them in.
Yahapalanaya deviating it’s course to Wanapalanaya.
Next vacation I will also deviate from UL to QR if the menace exists.
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Punchiburampi / August 14, 2016
This is no correct, in case the UL flight to London made that, they need to correct it not repeating it again.
This has nothing to do with the Yahapalanaya but SRILANKEN management. We people make mistakes…. even Emirates or others could make big mistakes.
I repeatedly met with my baggages being delayed – not delieverd to the last destination as should be. The airline is award won Etihard. So I must not call that Airline is bankrupt just because of the repeated failurs I myself faced… it happens. Likewise if srilankens did that mistake they have to correct it winning the passengers next. Basta
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Captain obvious / August 13, 2016
Come on guys. Anyone reading this article can see that this is someone holding a grudge against these guys using CT to seem credible. Nowhere in this article is there a fact to point out this so called sabotage just the unnamed authors speculation.
This is like SL losing the cricket match and me writing an article on CT saying “However it is still to be established if this was an act of sabotage by former President MR who as we know is not allowed to watch any cricket matches as we tend to lose when he does”
CT is slowly becoming a forum that 2-3 very bitter individuals seem to use to sound credible and spread rumours. In the process making CT more or less a gossip rag. CT editors please screen your articles and don’t let gutter journalism like this in.
When the former regime blocked CT we all used proxies and various other methods to get credible news and the truth written by people of integrity.
Now every Tom, D and Harry with a sour backside seems to use CT to vent their very sad lives anonymously.
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Sylvia Haik / August 13, 2016
This bill should be sent to Mahinda Rajapakse who on a whim cancelled the previous efficient management of SriLankan Airlines. Deprivation of headphones is nothing. Just over a year ago, In my flight from Colombo to London, the SriLanakan Airlines ran out of hot water which deprived us all of a hearty breakfast. I did not have the heart to sue.
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Samuel Jayaweera / August 14, 2016
Very right.
Or his Massina – who looted the airlines to core.
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Rajash / August 13, 2016
Headset what head set.
They entire entertainment system doesn’t work….so why bother loading the headphone system on to the carriier
The frustration to the passenger is more when they are given a headset and they find the system is not working
What do they do …they keep calling the cabin crew staff…who can’t do anything
So this is a crafty thinking.ndon’t hand out the head set.
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Douglas / August 14, 2016
If this “story” is true, irrespective of the personnel involved (of the Union or other) this is the time for the Management to show “It means Business” and “No Nonsense”. I say this because, the crew come on board much earlier than allowing the passengers to board. They (all Flight Operation and Cabin crew) have so much of “Pre-Flight Checks” to be done, that which I believe all safety aspects (technical and flight route details etc), provisions needed for the entire duration of the flight are in place etc. Those “Provisions” include these “Head Sets” in question. This comes within the duty requirements of the “Cabin Crew” and a failure to look into all and every aspect must be borne by them and especially the “CHIEF” of the crew. So, now the Management must take a serious view and inculcate that this “Management Style” is nothing but “No Nonsense”. Forget “UNION” disputes. Let them sort it out by themselves.
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Peace Lover / August 15, 2016
This is a lapse on the part of the pre-flight ops team who are supposed to check each and every thing on the check list
I doubt this was done by Cramer or Janz as CT tries to make out,looks like CT has a grudge against our national airline the same way it has a grudge against CPA
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Lanka Watch / August 15, 2016
This airline has pampered the air travellers too much. Passengers
who travelled within Europe or within North America would have
noticed the difference in service provided on board. The airlines
there charge for everything except water and half a can of soft
drink, given in a plastic cup. I had an incident when the other
half of the can was refused and this was a four hour flight. A
basic meal is not given during meal times unless you are prepared
to buy a pack of sandwich, priced between 5 to 10 USD plus taxes
and many airlines charge for the head sets.The former airline, Air Lanka was even worse by being generous with expensive hard liquor
and each meal had expensive sea food and business class was like heaven.The travellers should compare and complain.
Head sets, blankets, soft drinks and short eats are complimentary
items and many airlines have done away with them in Europe and Americas, and people flying in these areas are used to it and carry their own meals and make a mess of the cabins.In this case the Cabin manager failed to check his ‘check list’ like the Capts. do their checks, before take off and he failed to notice that these items were missing, resulting in causing inconvenience to the customers, though not every Podi- Singho & Kandiah use this facility on board.
AirLanka/Sri Lankan known for excellent in flight services and the cabin crew should strive hard to maintain this good name and have
their grievances sorted out on ground.
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Juliette / August 15, 2016
The Cabin crew have only 15 minutes prior to pay boarding, which has is meant for crew to carry out a safety and security check and be briefed by the operating Captain. They are not responsible for ensuring items are loaded on the flight. That is the job of Catering and Support services. If it’s sabotage, then it’s done to make the union members look bad. Because there are others who for personal reasons don’t want this Committee in place. I also cannot believe that a female Crew member is complaining about not being utilised for the PIA operation. There are concerns about the safety of the male crew and the safety of the females was expected to be that much more of a concern. For those who condemn without knowing the the facts. Shame on you.
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Kugan / August 15, 2016
Lanka watch
What you are talking about is budget air lines.
There is big competition among middle east air lines as well.
Sri Lankan now joined one world so they have to keep the standard.
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Upul / August 16, 2016
Really…CT thought this was news worthy? Please have the so-called passengers review their conditions of carriage first, before wasting everyone’s time.
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