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BIA flight rescheduling talks next week
View(s):By Sunimalee Dias
Sri Lanka’s aviation authorities are scheduled to meet with airlines and other stakeholders next week to discuss how one-third of the flights of a daily schedule, could be accommodated during the 3-month disruption next year at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
Airport & Aviation Services Ltd. Executive Director Johanne Jayaratna told the Sunday Times, this meeting will discuss issues including rescheduling of flights operating during the daytime, to be slotted in at nighttime, a development that was exclusively reported by this paper last week. Hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators, in addition to international airline operators, are due to attend the meeting.
The airport will be inoperative from January 6 to April 6, 2017 (from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm) to undertake urgent repairs to the 30 year-old runway, the airline industry and stakeholders were informed in a circular by the Civil Aviation Authority.
He also noted that discussions would centre on the possibility of reducing flights, as not all airline frequencies (operating during the day) could be accommodated at night.
Further, the possibility of using Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) during this period by the airlines, and how local authorities could assist in the implementation of such an operation, is also to be discussed.
Mr Jayaratna pointed out they were also looking at the likelihood of providing a shuttle bus service from MRIA to Colombo or, even connecting up with domestic flights to be operated from Mattala to Ratmalana domestic airport.
The use of small aircraft of the B20 range could be used to travel between Mattala and Ratmalana, he said. As the Ratmalana airport cannot accommodate large aircraft, small aircraft would have to be used instead.However, Mr. Jayaratna ruled out any increased congestion at the BIA during nighttime operations, even though there would be more flights.
In this respect, he explained there would be only about a 20% buildup in congestion of passenger traffic at the airport during peak hours during this particular period. “This is manageable,” Mr Jayaratna said. Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President, Devendra Senaratne told the Sunday Times they would be informing tour operators about the impending situation.
In this respect, he pointed out, they would have to ensure minimal inconvenience to visitors by rescheduling arrivals and departures as per the new airline schedules.