The fleet of Sri Lankan Aviation Company Limited would be expanded to include an additional aircraft which would be obtained on a lease basis to transport goods, the government said today. The Cabinet of Ministers has yesterday granted approval to obtain the aircraft subject to international competitive procurement methodology. “The fleet of Sri Lankan Aviation Company Limited is comprised of a large number of economical narrow body aircraft. As a result, more attention has been paid on the passenger air routes network in the recent years. This has led to the underutilization of aero goods transportation potential due to the lack of suitable aircraft that cater the goods transportation facility,” the government said. With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic most of the aircraft companies have paid attention on aero goods transportation since passenger transportation became limited. “Sri Lankan Airlines currently operates freight operations to 26 destinations. Considering the current market changes, it has become a fine opportunity for the main aeronautical companies to enter into goods transportation market via main air routes seeking the goods transportation market share. “Therefore, paying attention on the potential for air goods transportation, it has been planned to change the available Sri Lankan company structure strategically,” the government further said.