Lonely MRIA awaits stopovers
View(s):Sri Lanka’s loneliest airport, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) may not have any scheduled flights but still welcomes unscheduled air traffic movement, airport officials said.
In 2016 the airport saw about 49 international aircraft movements with four non-scheduled domestic aircraft movements and 398 non-scheduled aircraft movements that increased to 176 non-scheduled international aircraft movements and 440 non-scheduled domestic aircraft movements last year, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne told the Business Times on Tuesday.
This year, authorities expect the figure of non-scheduled aircraft movements to increase the 2017 figures. Upto April there had been 42 international non-scheduled aircraft movements and 56 non- scheduled domestic aircraft movements, he said
Although these remain non-scheduled Mr. Jayaratne pointed out that the airport would continue to be operational in the absence of any scheduled flights operating there.
Most aircraft flying in cater to the business sector and chartered flights for Indian wedding parties in addition to corporate jets that fly in travellers for weekend packages.
(SD)