Most of the top businessmen in the region are flying into Colombo on their private jets that could see jet traffic rise up by about 30-40% next year, airport authority officials said. Currently, with most of the jet traffic sent to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) it was pointed out that authorities were encouraging visitors [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Corporate jets to increase travel to Colombo

By Sunimalee Dias
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Most of the top businessmen in the region are flying into Colombo on their private jets that could see jet traffic rise up by about 30-40% next year, airport authority officials said. Currently, with most of the jet traffic sent to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) it was pointed out that authorities were encouraging visitors to now use the Ratmalana Airport as well.

Ratmalana Airport has been generating at least six movements since it opened for jet traffic five weeks back. BIA is seeing eight movements per week with corporate jet traffic expected to increase by 27 per cent this year, authorities said. Given the congestion at the BIA, airport authorities are encouraging operators to use facilities at Ratmalana instead, Airport and Aviation Services Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne said in an interview with the Business Times. He noted that currently they were looking at aggressively marketing the Ratmalana airport for jet traffic in the future.

Authorities expect corporate jet traffic to increase by around 30-40 per cent to Colombo next year. Expansion plans at the Ratmalana airport would be however considered in another four to five years’ time, it was noted as this domestic facility is facing issues being in proximity to the Galle Road on the one side and facing a marshy land on the other.




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