FitsAir

{{Short description|Sri Lankan airline}} {{More footnotes needed|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox airline | airline = FitsAir | logo = Fitsair_logo.png | logo_size = 250px | logo_alt = FitsAir logo | image = FitsAir A320s at Colombo airport.jpg | caption = FitsAir Airbus A320 aircraft at Colombo Airport | destinations = 5 | fleet_size = 3 | IATA = 8D | ICAO = EXV | callsign = EXPOAVIA | parent = Aberdeen Holdings | founded = {{Start date and age|1997}} (as Expo Aviation) | headquarters = Colombo, Sri Lanka | aoc = | hubs = <div> *Bandaranaike International Airport *Ratmalana Airport </div> | secondary_hubs = | focus_cities = <div> *Jakarta *Bangkok *Kuala Lumpur *Dubai *Malé </div> | frequent_flyer = | lounge = | alliance = | num_employees = | website = www.fitsair.com }} '''FITS Aviation (Pvt) Limited''', DBA '''FitsAir''' (formerly known as '''ExpoAir'''), is a Sri Lankan low-cost airline. It operates scheduled passenger services within Sri Lanka, as well as international flights to several cities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, and also operates charter flights to India. The company slogan is ''Friend In The Skies.'' FitsAir is a subsidiary of Aberdeen Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Sri Lanka.

ExpoAir was the first airline in Sri Lanka to be certified under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) annex requirements, as well as being the first domestic airline to be certified by the Department of Civil Aviation to commence flights to Jaffna.

== History == thumb|Former logo of FitsAir thumb|262px|Expo Air's DC-8 at Mauritius (2006) Expo Aviation was established in 1997, with operations commencing in 1998 using 2 Antonov An-8 aircraft, which were later replaced by An-12s. In 2001, Expo Aviation started domestic operations to Jaffna using Ilyushin Il-18 and Antonov An-26 aircraft. Soon after this, the airline was renamed ExpoAir.

The next year, in 2002, the airline leased 3 Fokker F27 aircraft from Oman Air. An additional IL-18 started operating in 2003, and ExpoAir launched cabin crew training in 2004.

In 2005, Expo Air applied to the ''Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL)'' to operate international air cargo services to Malé, Mumbai, Tiruchirapalli, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Vizag, Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Kathmandu, Chittagong, Dhaka, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat, Jeddah, Beirut, and Cairo, as well as various cities in Australia, Africa, and Europe, with the short-haul routes utilizing the Airbus A320, medium-haul routes utilizing the Airbus A330, and long-haul routes utilizing the Airbus A340 models.<ref>[http://www.caa.lk/press110405.htm Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013160411/http://www.caa.lk/press110405.htm |date=October 13, 2006 }} 11 April 2005</ref> In 2006, ExpoAir added a Douglas DC-8 to its fleet and sold a Fokker 27.

Starting in January 2012, Expo Air relaunched its scheduled passenger flights from Ratmalana Airport to Jaffna Airport with a brand-new Cessna 208 Caravan. The aircraft has 12 seats and passengers are able to reach Jaffna in less than 1 hour.

In 2019, the airline expanded its domestic operations by introducing scheduled flights from Colombo to Batticaloa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190310/magazine/fitsair-expands-with-scheduled-flights-339233.html|title=FitsAir expands with scheduled flights|last=|first=|date=2019-03-10|website=The Sunday Times Sri Lanka|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-10-30}}</ref>

Scheduled domestic operations to Jaffna resumed in February 2020 with three flights weekly operated on their ATR 72-200.

In November 2020, the airline leased a former Thomas Cook Airbus A321 modified to carry cargo to operate nonstop flights to Dubai.

In 2021, the airline got three A320-200 aircraft, which are dry-leased for passenger operations. On 5 October 2022, FitsAir ceremonially started its very-first scheduled, commercial passenger flights, launching Colombo (CMB) to Dubai (DXB). Later, this service was launched as a daily service due to higher demand from 26 March 2023. On 20 February 2023, airline launched Colombo (CMB) to Chennai (MAA) service. In May 2023, the airline crossed the 50,000 passenger mark for the first time since their scheduled passenger service started in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/FitsAir-crosses-first-50-000-passengers-mark/27-748062|title=FitsAir crosses first 50,000 passengers mark|last=|first=|date=2023-05-09|website=DailyFT|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2023-05-31}}</ref> From 20 January 2026, airline will fly Colombo (CMB) to Lahore (LHE) route.

== Destinations == FitsAir serves 7 domestic destinations and 7 international destinations in 8 countries, as of March 2026. [[File:FitsAir_A320s_at_Colombo_airport.jpg|thumb|FitsAir Airbus A320s parked at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo]]

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Country ! City ! Airport ! Notes ! Ref. |- |{{ARM}} || Yerevan || Zvartnots International Airport || {{Airline seasonal}} ||<ref name="NS24">{{cite news|title=FITSAIR NS24 MALDIVES – ARMENIA OPERATION CHANGES|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240723-8dns24evn|work=AeroRoutes|date=}}</ref> |- |{{BAN}} || Dhaka || Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/aviation/sri-lankas-fitsair-launches-direct-flights-dhaka-813066 | title=Sri Lanka's FitsAir launches direct flights to Dhaka | date=22 March 2024 |work=The Business Standard}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|{{IND}} || Chennai || Chennai International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka's FitsAir launches Colombo-Chennai flight|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/sri-lankas-fitsair-launches-colombo-chennai-flight/article66531910.ece/|newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 February 2023}}</ref> |- | Ahmedabad || Ahmedabad Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite news |title=FitsAir launches direct Ahmedabad–Colombo flights with Sri Lanka tourism partners |url=https://m.economictimes.com/nri/visit/fitsair-launches-direct-ahmedabadcolombo-flights-with-sri-lanka-tourism-partners/amp_articleshow/129498365.cms |work=The Economic Times |accessdate=16 March 2026}}</ref> |- |{{MYS}}|| Kuala Lumpur || Kuala Lumpur International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite web |title=FitaAir Launches Direct Colombo-KL Flights, Boosting Air Connectivity, Bilateral Ties |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php/news.php?id=2409184 |publisher=Bernama |date=4 April 2025}}</ref> |- |{{MDV}} || Malé || Velana International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| || |- |{{PAK}} || Lahore || Allama Iqbal International Airport ||||<ref>{{cite web|title=FitsAir to start Colombo–Lahore service in early 2026 |url=https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com.bd/news-details/fitsair-to-start-colombolahore-service-in-early-2026|website=Bangladesh Monitor|access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> |- |rowspan=10|{{SRI}} || Anuradhapura || Anuradhapura Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |Batticaloa || Batticaloa International Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |rowspan=2| Colombo || Bandaranaike International Airport || {{Airline hub}} || |- |Ratmalana Airport || {{Airline hub}} || |- |Hambantota || Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |Jaffna || Jaffna International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite news|title=FitsAir launches schedule flights to Jaffna|url=https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2020/02/03/finance/210250/fitsair-launches-schedule-flights-jaffna?page=29|newspaper=Daily News|date=3 February 2020}}</ref> |- |Koggala || Koggala Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |Sigiriya || Sigiriya Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic">{{cite news|title=FitsAir expands operations with launch of charter and scheduled flights |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240723-8dns24evn|work=Daily News|date=4 March 2019}}</ref> |- |Trincomalee || China Bay Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |Vavuniya || Vavuniya Airport || {{Airline seasonal|Charter}} ||<ref name="FitsAirDomestic"/> |- |{{UAE}}|| Dubai || Dubai International Airport ||style="text-align:center"| ||<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/fitsair-off-to-a-flying-start-with-inaugural-flight-to-dubai/ | title=FitsAir off to a flying start with inaugural flight to Dubai | date=26 September 2022 |work=Ada Derana}}</ref><ref name="Routes">{{cite news|work=FitsAir|title=Where We Fly {{!}} FitsAir |url=https://fitsair.com/where-we-fly/}}</ref> |}

=== Interline agreements === * Air Astana<ref name="AirAstanaInterline">{{cite web|url=https://airastana.com/global-en/information/airline-partners|title=Airline Partners|publisher=Air Astana|access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> * APG Airlines<ref>{{cite web|title=A-Z of Our Partner Airlines|url=https://www.apgiet.com/all-partner-airlines.html|publisher=APG Airlines|accessdate=22 April 2025}}</ref> * Hahn Air<ref>{{cite web|title=Partner Carriers|publisher=Hahn Air|access-date=23 April 2025|url=https://www.hahnair.com/en/partner-carriers}}</ref>

== Fleet == {{multiple image|total_width=360 |image1=4R-EXO Cessna 208 Caravan EX.jpg |image2=4R-EXR Airbus A320-232.jpg |footer=(L-R) FitsAir Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and Airbus A320-232}} {{As of|2025|8}}, FitsAir operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - FitsAir |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=75}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+ FitsAir fleet |- !rowspan="2" | Aircraft !rowspan="2" | In service !rowspan="2" | Orders !colspan="3" | Passengers !rowspan="2" | Notes |- !style="width:25px;" | <abbr title="Business Class">J</abbr> !style="width:25px;" | <abbr title="Economy Class">Y</abbr> !style="width:25px;" | Total |- |style="text-align:left;"|Airbus A320-200 |style="text-align:center;"|3 | — |style="text-align:center;"| 8 |style="text-align:center;"| 156 |style="text-align:center;"| 164 |style="text-align:center;"|4R-EXQ, 4R-EXR, 4R-EXS |- !'''Total''' !3 !— ! colspan="4" | |}

===Historical fleet=== {{multiple image |total_width=360 |image1 = Antonov_An-12B,_Expo_Air_AN0852135.jpg |caption1 = Expo Air Antonov An-12B <small>(4R-EXC)</small> |image2 = Ilyushin_Il-18GrM_(SCD),_Expo_Air_AN1003076.jpg |caption2 = Expo Air Ilyushin Il-18 <small>(4R-EXD)</small> }}

{| class="wikitable" |+ FitsAir mainline historical fleet |- !Aircraft !Introduced !Retired !Passengers !Notes |- |Antonov An-8 | style="text-align:center" |3 | style="text-align:center" |3 | | style="text-align:center" |''4R-EXA'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aircraft 4R-EXA (Antonov An-8 C/N 0Zh3410) Photo by Andy Graf - VAP (Photo ID: AC862803) |url=https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000862803.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.airport-data.com}}</ref> ''4R-EXB'', ''3C-ZZO''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soviet Database |url=https://www.scramble.nl/database/soviet/details/21_16398 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.scramble.nl}}</ref> |- |Antonov An-12B | style="text-align:center" |1 | style="text-align:center" |1 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center" |''4R-EXC''{{cn|date=November 2025}} |- |Antonov An-24RV | style="text-align:center" |1 | style="text-align:center" |1 | | style="text-align:center" |''EX-24808''<ref>{{Cite web |title=AN24 EX-24808 by Chris Doggett |url=https://pbase.com/fstopintl/image/116183226 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=PBase |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Fokker F27 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|52 | style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXG'',{{cn|date=November 2025}} ''4R-EXH'', ''4R-EXK (ex- 4R-MRA, 4R-EXF)''{{cn|date=November 2025}}

|- |Ilyushin Il-18 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXD'', ''UR-CFR'', ''EX-005''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accident Ilyushin Il-18D EX-005, |url=https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/322677 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> |- |Douglas DC-8-63CF | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXJ'' |- |Cessna 208B Grand Caravan | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|12 | style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXP (ex- 4R-EXL)'', ''4R-EXO'' |- |McDonnell Douglas MD-82(SF) |style="text-align:center;"|1 |style="text-align:center;"|1 |style="text-align:center;"|0 |style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXM'' |- |Airbus A321-200 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|''LY-VEH'' |- |ATR 72-200 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|66 | style="text-align:center;"|''4R-EXN''{{cn|date=November 2025}} |}

== Other business == {{unsourced section|date=December 2025}} ExpoAir has a leasing arm that wet- and dry-leases aircraft to third parties. In 2005, an F27 was dry-leased to Pakistan International Airlines, and in 2006, the airline wet-leased a Douglas DC-8-63CF to Air Mauritius. In 2007, it dry-leased another F27 aircraft to Mihin Lanka. In 2008, it wet-leased a Beech Super King Air 200 from South Africa and sub-leased the aircraft to the UN arm of WFP for operations in Sri Lanka. In August 2014 Dimonim Air (Indonesia) leased the sole ATR 72-200, (PK-HVH), belonging to Sri Lankan carrier Fits Air, for use on its internal Indonesian network. An Airbus A320 (4R-EXR) is on wet lease to Air Arabia Sharjah. Air Arabia is using this on international routes from Sharjah-Karachi-Sharjah with Flight Codes G9548 and G9549.

==Awards== ===Arabian Cargo Awards=== * Most Innovative Cargo Airline in 2025 <ref>{{cite news |title=Fits Cargo Wins “Most Innovative Cargo Airline” at Arabian Cargo Awards 2025 |date=23 December 2025 |accessdate=15 April 2026 |work=Aviation Voice |url=https://aviationvoice.lk/fits-cargo-wins-most-innovative-cargo-airline-at-arabian-cargo-awards-2025/}}</ref>

== References == {{Commonscat}} {{reflist}}

{{Airlines of Sri Lanka}}

Category:Airlines of Sri Lanka Category:Airlines established in 1997 Category:Cargo airlines Category:Sri Lankan companies established in 1997