$41 m BIA runway revamp begins

According to AASL :

POSSIBLE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

With proposed work plan brought up by AASL; the airport operator, for resurfacing the runway, a meeting was convened by DGCA on 21st September 2015 with the participation of senior officials of CAASL, AASL, SriLankan Airlines and Aircraft Operators Committee (AOC) in order to discuss the arrangements to be made for re-surfacing of the existing runway at BIA. At this meeting the need to minimize disruption of airport operations and inconvenience to airport users was underscored and possible alternate options available were discussed. The following options were looked at if the BIA runway was to be closed for resurfacing.

1. Use of Mattala Rajapakse International Airport, (MRIA)
2. Converting the current taxiway (which was the old runway) into a temporary runway
3. Construction of a new runway
4. Use of Ratmalana or any other existing airport

Business Jets Operations
All business jet aircraft during the closure period (06.01.2017 – 06.04.2017) will be handled at Colombo Airport, Ratmalana

More : http://airport.lk/aasl/news/20161223-1.php

Probably the terminal was too close to the taxiway for that to happen

And also is the taxiway able to handle takeoff and landings in its current condition.

$41 m?? why is it so expensive to revamp the runway?

Current VCBI taxiway is not capable of handling landing and takeoff of the jet aircraft.

Current VCBI runway is to be widened & modified for ICAO-CODE=F operations by April 2017. So the aircraft like A380 with the longer wingspan can use the VCBI runway safely. Runway lights will be changed to the latest standard.

Scene at BIA

I don't see the need to widen the runway - just an unnecessary waste of money imho.

Are they expecting daily A380 flights?

A380's have already operated on the present runway so it can't be that much of an issue.

Any investment on infrastructure meant solely for A380 is a complete waste in my opinion. A380 program is hanging by a thread and as soon as the financially sane camp takes the upper hand in Toulouse (from the egomaniacs), life support will be disconnected.

A380 has made 207 deliveries so far out of a potential order book of 319, but in reality, less than 50 more will be delivered (including the ones that are already built and being fitted out). Even EK, the sole driver of the program postponed the delivery of 6 aircraft by 2 years (or 12 for one year as it was reported in the media).

Word around the EK circles is that when STC retires and CM takes over the reigns, part of their outstanding A380 order may either be postponed indefinitely or converted to another model (Not to mention the blunder of ordering RR Trent 900 engines, as opposed to continuing with incumbent GP7200).

SQ has already indicated that they will not renew the lease on their first 'obese' aircraft and the chances are that the same fate will befall upon the remaining 4 overweight siblings.

All in all, A380 will just be an over-sized aberration on the otherwise more of less standard sized aircraft by both Boeing and Airbus, which are perfectly happy with the current 'size' of the infrastructure on offer around the world.

true

and true...

they should have spend the money by investing in rapid-exit taxiway

Looks like the 777X will be a Cat F rated aircraft so the runway widening to Cat F standard could be worth it. But yes its a waste of money if its solely intended for A380 operations.

Good observation.

I thought Boeing managed to squeeze it in to Cat E, assisted by the use of folding wingtips.