BIA’s temporary shutdown in 2017
Sri Lanka’s main international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is scheduled to partially close in 2017 for three months to carry out maintenance work on the runway, Civil Aviation Authority Director General (DG) H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times on Friday.
He noted that this would be decided early since airlines need to be informed one year ahead of such closures.
In this respect, he pointed out that this would be the first time such overlaying or re-surfacing would be carried out on the runway at the BIA since its construction in 1986.
This would amount to a closure of the airport operations for eight hours per day for a period of three months, the DG said.
Mr. Nimalsiri said that re-surfacing would be carried out on the runway due to the wear and tear on it and since the friction level on it could come down over use throughout the years and also due to loose elements as well.
He pointed out that a lot of safety hazards were at stake unless the runway was not maintained properly that would be carried out in one year’s time. The cost of the project is yet to be estimated and currently the CAA is planning on working out how to make the necessary arrangements to ensure there would be fewer disturbances to traffic at the airport, he said.
“We will find the least congested hours causing least disturbance for airlines and work out an alternative,” the DG said.
Currently, there are 175 aircraft movements per day and the closure would affect airport operations, hotels and the rest of the country as well, he pointed out.
Expansion work on the BIA is ongoing at a cost of Rs.80 billion that would enhance its capacity from the current 7.8 million to 15 million upon completion within three year, it was stated.