Reducing 5-hour check-in requirement at BIA being explored
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Airport authorities have introduced a novel feature of a calypso band in the BIA lobby to entertain passengers while they wait to board a flight. The move has been praised by travellers and travel industry as innovative and 'thinking out of the box." Pic supplied by a airport worker.
The possibility of reducing the 5-hour compulsory passenger check-in requirement at the Bandaranaike International Airport is being explored, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga was quoted as saying after a visit to the airport last Sunday.
“We are also looking at the possibility of reducing the 5 hour check in time. I’m confident this can be reduced in the near future,” Minister Amaratunga said, according to a media release issued by the ministry. Before the partial closure of the airport (starting January 6), passengers were asked to check-in 2-3 hours before a flight.
After meetings with key officials at the airport, the ministry said that some of the other measures introduced (to ease congestion) are queue management, entertainment for waiting passengers, additional seating arrangements, passenger facilitation services in the emigration area and free Wi-Fi for passengers.
“During the meeting at the airport we discussed the feasibility of introducing a separate business class check in area to ease main terminal passenger traffic. We are also exploring the possibility of enabling passenger check in at airline offices in Colombo. Logistics and emigration issues need to be worked out in this regard,” the Minister said.
Initial congestion caused as a result of the partial closure of the Bandaranaike International Airport beginning January 6 has now eased, the ministry said. The airport is closed from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm daily for a period of three months to carry out resurfacing of the main runway.
The number of counters for check-in, immigration and also customs has been increased corresponding to the increase in traffic.
| National carrier says smooth check-in process in place | |
| Despite the closure of the runway during the daytime hours beginning last week, SriLankan Airlines services and operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake have proceeded seamlessly, with minimal inconvenience for both inbound and outbound tourists, the airline said on Wednesday. According to independent verification, there was both chaos and smooth operations and it depended on the times of flights. “During peak hours 4.30 pm-8.30 pm and 4-5 am-8 am there was some congestion while off-peak hours were smooth,” one travel agent said. Earlier this week the Tourism Minister John Amaratunga visited the airport with officials and appeared to have come up with a plan to ease the congestion. The national carrier said the current smooth synergy between the Civil Aviation Authority, Airport and Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (AASL), SriLankan Airlines (the ground handler) and the defence authorities resulted in a ‘business as usual’ approach, resulting in operations continuing smoothly despite the ongoing renovation of the runway. “As the key parties to ensuring uninterrupted services at the international airport, all partners have benefitted by cooperating fully with each other whilst ensuring strong team work and proactive attitude. Their combined foresight is helping the new arrangements to work smoothly. This renovation is a massive undertaking and marks the first time a renovation like this has taken place, which has required significant adjustments for all stakeholders. However, the stipulation by the authorities for passengers to report to the airport five hours before the flight has helped significantly,” the media release said. Airline CEO Suren Ratwatte commented, “I commend the support, patience and understanding displayed by all stakeholders, as we do our best to ensure uninterrupted services. I would especially like to thank all the airport employees for their untiring efforts to tide us over this challenging period by sustaining their commitment to enhanced customer care. I am also grateful to all our passengers for arriving early at the Bandaranaike International Airport in order for us to facilitate their travel with minimum hassle and delays.” |