Sri Lanka’s domestic airports are to be upgraded for the operation of the regional commercial flights. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Sri Lanka is set to perform certification of aerodromes for the commencement of Regional Air Service operations.
This regional commercial flight initiative is in conformity with the applicable standards to foreign destinations. The CAA has been directed to prepare the border control formalities to discharge their legitimate functions at such airports. All those modalities aimed at operating regional commercial flights have been approved by the Cabinet of ministers recently.
During the past several years, the Government has taken a series of measures to improve the domestic aviation. Consequently, action has been taken to develop the Batticaloa Airport and to enhance civil aviation facilities at the Ratmalana Airport while steps are being taken to improve the Palali Airport.
The upgraded Palali airport will be able to accommodate regional airliners from the Indian subcontinent from September, State Minister for Civil Aviation Ashoka Abeysinghe said.
Sri Lanka government has provided LKr 2 billion to upgrade the airport that will see a renovated runway, a better terminal and a temporary air traffic control tower will be set up.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will further invest another LKR 1 billion to assist in the refurbishment and the development of the Palali domestic airport into an international airport.
Abeysinghe said that with the granting of free visa to 48 countries including India, the Palali international airport would get attention from Indian airlines and tourists.
Meanwhile, an Airport Aviation official said that the international Air Transport Association (IATA) approvals have been received (IATA-JAF) to operate international flights.
IndiGo, an Indian low-cost airline headquartered at Haryana, India and the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 48.1% domestic market share as of June 2019, is also expected to be the first international airline to operate to Palali.
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