COLOMBO: OCERA, a new airline being developed in Sri Lanka, is targeting the start of commercial operations in 2027, with financial backing secured and regulatory and operational preparations under way, Chief Executive Officer Reena Abdulrahman said.

The proposed carrier is progressing with aircraft planning, regulatory work, operational systems and recruitment as it seeks to build a new airline connecting Sri Lanka with regional and international markets.

“Every airline begins long before the first aircraft takes off,” Reena said, adding that the project had begun with detailed studies into market demand, network viability, aircraft requirements, costs and the regulatory pathway.

She said months of work had gone into market studies, financial planning, aircraft evaluation, regulatory preparation and operational planning.

The airline has yet to announce its planned fleet or initial route network, but Reena said OCERA was being built around new-generation aircraft, modern technology, operational efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort.

The company has also secured the financial backing required to move into the next phase of development, she said.

“Today, I can say with confidence that the financial backing required to take OCERA into its next stage is in place,” Reena said.

She said the investment reflected confidence in the business opportunity, the team behind the airline and Sri Lanka’s potential as an aviation market.

OCERA takes its name from the idea of an “Ocean Era”, reflecting Sri Lanka’s location in the Indian Ocean and its proximity to India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Reena, who is Indian, said Sri Lanka’s geography, tourism potential, aviation talent and established history in the sector were among the factors behind the decision to develop the airline from the island.

“When I look at the island, I do not see something small. I see India immediately beside it, the Middle East within reach, Southeast Asia close by and the wider Indian Ocean around it,” she said.

“OCERA is therefore not about bringing aviation to Sri Lanka. Aviation already has deep roots here. It is about contributing another chapter to that story.”

Reena said experienced aviation professionals were already working across operations, engineering, finance, technology, commercial planning, safety and training as the company develops the systems needed to support commercial operations.

She said the airline still had significant regulatory and operational work ahead, including securing approvals, completing systems, training employees and demonstrating its operational capabilities.

Engagement with the relevant Sri Lankan authorities had so far been “constructive and professional”, she added.

While the airline is working towards a 2027 launch, Reena said readiness would take priority over meeting a particular date.

“Our target is 2027,” she said. “A date matters. Readiness matters more.”

Reena said the company also wanted OCERA to contribute to Sri Lanka through employment, tourism, skills development, technology and wider economic activity.

“Aircraft do not build airlines. People do,” she said.

OCERA will operate under the tagline “Fly with Island Soul”.