Ministry of Civil Aviation: A nation rich in connectivity

“Aviation provides worldwide network, which makes it essential for global business and tourism, thus playing a vital role in economic growth”

GOALS

lIncrease runway movement from 11 to 17 departures per hour at BIA. 

lFacilitate an optimum structure to ensure a strong network of airports.

ACTION PLAN Technology

1. Convert a section of the Lotus Tower retail area into an express international flight check-in zone, with luggage drop-in services.

2. Introduce facial and fingerprint biometrics for fast check-in at immigration counters. 

3. Implement BIA app to have real-time flight details, terminal maps, taxi details and booking, restaurants and airport hotel details. 

Infrastructure

4.Expand Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 16 additional aero-bridges. 

5. Transform Ratmalana, Palali and Mattala airports to international budget airline hubs. 

6. Lengthen the runway at the Ratmalana Airport from the current 1773m to 2400m to the east side. This will enable landing of type-D aircraft i.e. aircraft with 120 seat capacities. International airports with runway lengths similar to Ratmalana airport are:

a. London City International airport- UK- Runway length 1500m

b. Antwerp International Airport- Belgium -  Runway length 1500m

c. Bocas Del Toro Isla Colon International Airport – Runway length 1500m

7. Replace the current Ratmalana Airport terminal with a larger prefabricated steel building built within one year, which will provide an improved layout for passenger handling and movement.8. Construct a domestic budget airport at Digana, Kandy within 3 years.

9. Introduce domestic flights from BIA and Ratmalana budget International airport to: 

a. Palali 

b. Trincomalee 

c. Batticaloa 

d. Koggala 

e. Mattala 

f. Digana, Kandy

10. Provide free landing and parking facilities to all cargo airlines to increase exports. 

11. Provide facilities for cargo airlines to fly internationally from Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Koggala and Digana (Kandy).

12. Remove the luggage handling monopoly in budget airlines and allow budget airlines to execute their own luggage handling.

13. Convert VVIP lounge and its boarding gates at Bandaranaike International Airport to budget airline operations.

14. Resume operations at Mattala International Airport.

15. Develop airports at Koggala, Batticaloa and Trincomalee for domestic flight operations and construct a new airport for domestic flights in Digana, Kandy.

16. Match the prices of fuel, landing, parking, airport taxes, aerobridge and luggage handling charges to that of Malaysia. 

17. Reduce the current Aircraft Turnaround Time at BIA of 60 minutes to 25 minutes for Budget Carriers, to increase the runway movement from the current 11 to 17 departures per hour, during peak hours.

18. Increase the number of self-check-in Kiosks from 8 to 20 at BIA.

19. Classify all airport charges as peak and off-peak and maintain a lower fee during off-peak hours.

20. Introduce minimum 50-seater aircraft for travellers to move within Sri Lanka.

21. Attract more budget airlines (low cost carriers) to operate to Sri Lanka, to accommodate low cost carrier passengers as there are 55,335 budget rooms available in the country.

22. Introduce smart immigration check-in counters to increase efficiency.

23. Increase the number of direct flights to the top 20 European destinations that bring large volumes of tourists to Sri Lanka, such as United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands and Italy.

24. Synchronise domestic flights at airports and their schedules with the respective international connective flights.

25. Establish a regulated and well-organised taxi service at BIA by providing the following; 

a. Maintain 2 types of taxis i.e. cars and vans. 

b. Issue duty-free vehicle permits for 900 taxi owners with special vehicle registration plates. 

c. Regulate the taxi services to ensure compliance and safetc