BIA reopens Apr 6, most flights on Apr 7
View(s):The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will reopen on April 6 as scheduled, after a 3-month day-break for urgent repairs, but most of the flights will start operating only on April 7, according to officials.
“According to schedules we have received, the day schedules are only resuming on Friday April 7,” one agent said. Airport officials confirmed saying that day flights of most airlines will start on April 7. SriLankan Airlines officials said a SriLankan flight is scheduled to land at 1230 hours on April 6 Thursday from Trivandrum, the first arrival after the reopening of the airport. Another charter flight will also arrive before 4.30 pm, the only two day flights after the reopening.
The airport has been closed during the day (8.30 am to 4.30 pm) since January 6, and was open only at night for overlay of the 30-year old runway.
The refurnished runway will be able to accommodate A380s since the width of the runway has also been increased to 75 metres from an earlier 60 metres.