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  • Originally posted by dilushasg-bdavi View Post
    Good to hear it.Thats Yahapalanaya. Not only chinese getting all projects like Rajapassa regime did.

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    • Originally posted by dilushasg-bdavi View Post
      SLAF does not want to move from BIA as SLAF Katunayake is a historical base but if they do, it will give more space for expansion at BIA
      and I thought SLAF and all report to the elected head of state !!!

      i.e. commander in chief - President !

      Comment


      • The Government has implemented an open skies policy over the ailing Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), granting international operators all nine


        Bid to revive Mattala: Free for all airlines

        The Government has implemented an open skies policy over the ailing Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), granting international operators all nine “freedoms of the air”—including the liberty to use it as a base for commercial airline operations.

        The new development is expected to be published as a gazette and in the worldwide aeronautical information circular this week. It has already been conveyed to relevant local authorities, Aviation Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri said.

        Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines, which no longer has commercial operations at the Mattala airport, has given up its ground handling rights there. This allows the airport management freedom to design plans to attract customer airlines.

        These decisions were taken at a meeting on Tuesday chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Reginold Cooray and attended by officials from the ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd and SriLankan Airlines. They agreed that, in view of the massive investment already made on the Mattala airport, they should take every possible measure to put the installation to good use. This included removing any barriers or restrictions on local and foreign airlines.

        The Government has been saddled with sprawling operational and maintenance costs. It was decided, therefore, that traffic rights would be made freely available to any airline operating into and out of MRIA. Minister Cooray instructed officials to explore avenues for a reputed foreign airline to start passenger and cargo commercial operations using MRIA as a base.

        The nine freedoms of the air are (in that order) : The right to fly over a foreign country without landing; the right to refuel or carry out maintenance in a foreign country without embarking or disembarking passengers or cargo; the right to fly from one’s own country to another; the right to fly from another country to one’s own; the right to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in one’s own country; the right to fly from a foreign country to another while stopping in one’s own country for non-technical reasons; the right to fly between two foreign countries while not offering flights to one’s own country; the right to fly inside a foreign country, continuing to one’s own country; and the right to fly inside a foreign country without continuing to one’s own country.

        Up to last week, only the first to fifth freedoms were allowed for MRIA. In the case of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), they are even more limited to protect the business of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines.

        “These freedoms operate in the manner of a route permit,” Mr. Nimalsiri said. “International airlines should now know that, if they want to come to MRIA, they have unbridled access. They can come and start operating out of Mattala.”

        “There are certain airlines that have a lot of money but limited opportunities,” he added. “If they think they should come to Sri Lanka and engage in an international operation with a destination they consider useful, they could do so.”

        One example of this is Air Asia, a Malaysian airline, using Indonesia as its base. “Mattala now needs more and more airline operations,” Mr. Nimalsiri concluded. “We are exploring the possibility of MRIA getting into the full stream of commercial operations.”

        Comment


        • Doha International Airport handled over 20million passengers per year with just a single runway which does not have a full length taxiway and the terminal did not have jetways. BIA seems to be in a much better position in terms of over capacity compared to old DOH

          Comment


          • Millions more on MRIA makeover

            The Government has estimated that it would have to spend an additional USD 40 million on proposed plans to convert the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) into a maintenance hub and a destination for cargo service providers, a high ranking official attached to the Airport and Aviation (Services) Sri Lanka (AASL) said last week.

            Accordingly, the AASL has commenced discussions with two organizations, a local and an international firm, with regard to the commencement of the project.
            However, no additional information could be revealed as the entire project is at its initial stages. The official pointed out that the need of the hour was to increase the performance while cutting down operational cost and not to increase the number of airlines to the airport.

            “Increasing the number of flights would only increase the operational cost. It would have a negative impact since the revenue earned is minimal,” the official added. Civil Aviation Minister of the previous government, Priyankara Jayarathne in July last year told Parliament that the airport had earned Rs.16,000 in May 2014.

            It was earlier decided to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) at the airport thereby focus on non-aviation services in order to earn more revenue. “In addition, we are also holding talks with several cargo service providers so that they could bring the goods to Mattala and reload them on to smaller planes and send them over to the adjacent countries,” the official commented.


            “So far the responses have been positive and we hope that we could finalize on certain aspects in the coming weeks,” the official added.

            Questions pertaining to the future of the MRIA had been doing the rounds ever since the new government took office in January this year. Speculations were also rife that the airport would be closed down owing to high operational costs and low income.

            The official who did not wish to be quoted also added that Sri Lanka would have to gear up to repay the loan amount of USD 240 million obtained for its construction from China Exim Bank. “The five year grace period has ended and we will have to start repayment from September,” the official said.
            Accordingly, the AASL is also burdened with the responsibility of finding ways to repay the loan.

            Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, D. Swarnapala admitted that the biggest challenge was to repay the loans obtained for the airport The Civil Aviation Ministry last week said that the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) would continue to function as before but added that fresh plans had been drafted to increase income through developing non-aviation services.

            Secretary to the Ministry, D. Swarnapala speaking to The Nation Gain refuted reports that the airport was defunct and added that a fresh development plan had been drafted in order to get the operations of the airport back on track.

            It was reported that FlyDubai, the only airline which flies to Mattala would stop its services. However, Swarnapala stated that the airline later agreed to continue its services as per the agreement.


            USD40 million on new Mattala makeover and flydubai will continue operations

            Comment


            • The Government has estimated that it would have to spend an additional USD 40 million on proposed plans to convert the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) into a maintenance hub and a destination for cargo service providers, a high ranking official attached to the Airport and Aviation (Services) Sri Lanka (AASL) said last week.

              It was earlier decided to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) at the airport thereby focus on non-aviation services in order to earn more revenue. “In addition, we are also holding talks with several cargo service providers so that they could bring the goods to Mattala and reload them on to smaller planes and send them over to the adjacent countries,” the official commented.
              SL Government have been talking about launching Mattala MRO Facility for a long time. Nothing seems to be actioned so far.

              I think It's a good plan spending USD 40 Million on making Mattala as a maintanance and cargo hub, instead of closing down this airport forever. Sri Lanka definately needs to two international airports and Colombo Airport Maintanance hangar is already facing capacity issues because of the growing business in SriLankan Airlines Engineering. But there will be many challenges for the government to make Mattala as MRO and cargo hub but they need to attract companies like Lufthansa Group. Also the SL government has to invest money on providing accomodation, salary increment and other facilities for the staff going to work from Mattala.

              Originally posted by dilushasg-bdavi View Post
              Doha International Airport handled over 20million passengers per year with just a single runway which does not have a full length taxiway and the terminal did not have jetways. BIA seems to be in a much better position in terms of over capacity compared to old DOH
              Second runway for Colombo airport (VCBI) is not very urgent but SL government has to start the projects for second terminal and additional remote apron for Colombo Airport as soon as possible. Mattala airport can be used an alternative airport for Colombo Airport when they have issues (in emergency) in Colombo Airport runway.

              Comment


              • Japan to grant Rs.49bn for Katunayake airport development

                The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a Rs. 49 billion loan under the Japan International Cooperation Institution (JICA) to Sri Lanka to develop the infrastructure facilities of the country's main international airport at Katunayake.
                The 45.3 billion Japanese Yen (nearly Rs. 48.9 billion) loan will be used to expand the facilities of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and to develop essential infrastructure facilities to increase the annual passenger handling capacities of the airport.

                It is expected to double the annual passenger handling capacities of the airport from the current volume of 7.4 million to 15 million by the year 2020.

                Cabinet of Ministers had approved a proposal by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to enter into an agreement with Japan to obtain these funds and to carry out future activities relating to this matter.
                http://news.lk/news/political-curren...rt-development

                Any idea on when the project will start?

                Comment


                • Originally posted by Godofpower View Post
                  http://news.lk/news/political-curren...rt-development

                  Any idea on when the project will start?
                  BIA capacity expansion to kick-off by year end

                  By Charumini de Silva

                  The next phase of development of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will commenginald Cooray said yesterday. Speaking at the APOT.Asia Forum, he said the intention of the Government was to develop BIA as a truly modern and efficient aviation passenger and cargo hub serving not limiting to South Asian region but the wider Asia Pacific region as well. “Being an island nation, we are heavily dependent on our air transport sector, which has a vital role to play in the economic development of the country. The Government of Sri Lanka has therefore has great emphasis on the air transport sector together with the tourism sector to boost our hospitality industry and ultimately the economy,” he added. -

                  See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/428037/BIA-....8pbtswzz.dpuf

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by Srilankan1 View Post
                    BIA capacity expansion to kick-off by year end

                    By Charumini de Silva

                    The next phase of development of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will commenginald Cooray said yesterday. Speaking at the APOT.Asia Forum, he said the intention of the Government was to develop BIA as a truly modern and efficient aviation passenger and cargo hub serving not limiting to South Asian region but the wider Asia Pacific region as well. “Being an island nation, we are heavily dependent on our air transport sector, which has a vital role to play in the economic development of the country. The Government of Sri Lanka has therefore has great emphasis on the air transport sector together with the tourism sector to boost our hospitality industry and ultimately the economy,” he added. -

                    See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/428037/BIA-....8pbtswzz.dpuf
                    Very sad they are keep on postponing the CMB development project. CMB urgently need the second terminal and additional remote apron.

                    Comment


                    • Capacity upgrade planned for Colombo's international airport
                      Feizal Samath, Colombo, June 2, 2015

                      SRI Lanka is doubling capacity at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from the current seven million to 15 million passengers by 2020, in a move that has been welcomed by the trade.

                      The cabinet said last week that Japan will provide 45.4 million yen (US$364,589) in funding for the project, which includes the creation of two separate terminals to handle inbound and outbound passengers. BIA currently has one terminal.

                      The airport’s runway is also to be expanded along with more check-in counters and more on-arrival immigration desks.

                      Colombo’s main airport handled 7.8 million passengers last year, up from 7.3 million in 2013. Tourist arrivals are rising and expected to reach 2.5 million in 2016 and two million this year, compared to 1.5 million in 2014 and fewer than 500,000 five years ago.

                      Commenting on the announcement, Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka president, S Paramanathan, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “Any airport with a sharp rise in tourist arrivals needs this kind of expansion.”

                      Nilmin Nanayakkara, managing director of NKAR Travels, said with numbers going up year on year, passenger movement needs to be freer and expanding the airport is vital.

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by banuthev View Post
                        Very sad they are keep on postponing the CMB development project. CMB urgently need the second terminal and additional remote apron.
                        Yeah! CMB is far behind when you compare it with other airports. CMB is handling B777s more than ever and I think the constructions should have started two years ago.

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                        • billion Yen or is it in Millions?
                          Its really confusing but as I remember from earlier its in Billions and you can't really build a new terminal with 40 million yen

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                          • Aviation Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa said that the preparations to implement the second phase of the development in September Katunayake Bandaranaike Airport. He told the media that the inspection tour of the airport.

                            This inspection visit was with a group of officials of the minister to look into the situation airport terminal.

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by SpookyFlyer View Post
                              Yeah! CMB is far behind when you compare it with other airports. CMB is handling B777s more than ever and I think the constructions should have started two years ago.
                              It's good they are planning to extend the current runway and to build the second terminal. I think CMB should have the runway and air bridge to easily handle the A380. Hopefully they will build one airbridge for A380 in the new terminal. May be EK will bring their A380 to CMB in next few years.

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by banuthev View Post
                                It's good they are planning to extend the current runway and to build the second terminal. I think CMB should have the runway and air bridge to easily handle the A380. Hopefully they will build one airbridge for A380 in the new terminal. May be EK will bring their A380 to CMB in next few years.
                                Most importantly they have to resurface the runway and expand the taxi ways.

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