Batti airport to open for commercial flights
The Batticaloa airport, up to now accommodating only military-controlled flights, will be opening by end May for private jets once the regulator awards certification as an internationally approved facility.
The domestic airport in Batticaloa will be given approval by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) next week to operate civil commercial flights, CAA Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times.
The Airport and Aviation Sri Lanka Ltd (AASL) will be running the airport once approvals are granted, he said.
Hoteliers and connected industries would benefit from this opening as this would mean improved accessibility to the East coast from the West coast, he explained.
This domestic airport could accommodate corporate jets and 50-seater planes or less that would be operating as a category 2B airfield on the 1200 metre length runway upon certification.
AASL would have to fulfill certain requirements like obtaining certification from the CAA in order to engage in commercial operations at the airport, Mr. Nimalsiri said.
Following Cabinet approval the gazette notification was issued on July 1, 2016 stating that the Batticaloa airport was handed over to the CAA with effect from May 31, 2016. As a result the Civil Aviation Ministry had allocated Rs.1 billion for construction and renovation work at the domestic airport.
The airport currently run by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) would in future have a civil administration handled by the AASL.
However military operations on the ground will continue with a separate access point for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).
SLAF Spokesman Gihan Seneviratne noted that separate access for civil and military operations were scheduled to take place in future.