Sri Lanka’s main airport begins night-time-only flight operations
AT THE AIRPORT: The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was abuzz on Friday morning with heightened activity amidst the congestion and increased staff working round the clock to ensure there would be a smooth operation to ease passenger traffic on the first day when the facility was scheduled to close by 8.30am.
The runway at the BIA that needs resurfacing has resulted in temporary daily closure of the main airport in the country from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm when it then re-opens for airline traffic. Until such time the airport turns into a ghost town.
The number of check in counters has increased from the existing 55 with an additional 15 manned by SriLankan Airlines who had also sent in a large number of staff to service these counters, it was found.
From around 4 am – 5.30 am there was some congestion at the arrivals immigration counters but this was eased off within about 20 minutes, airport officials told the Business Times.
It was understood that the space at the immigration counters was insufficient so much so that there was a space constraint for which it was expected to have increased counters at least in the upper floor but this was yet to be determined.
The 27 counters at the immigration arrivals were fully manned and it was noted that there were about 17 aircraft coming in during the early morning period that led to the congestion at the airport. Immigration counters in the departures numbering 16 was increased by three more.
Further, it was revealed that the Customs at the terminals was handling the passenger traffic ‘well’ within a space of about 20 minutes, according to a passenger arriving from Chennai, Nithya Kumar.
Empty scenes at the BIA after 8.30am. Pix by Indika Handuwala
The security at the airport was said to have worked out well with three shifts being operated where they had added extra staff and two more X-ray machines used in the transit areas and another two in the lobby.
Passengers were not allowed to bring in their friends or relatives into the airport as a result of which there were few seen outside the airport except for those awaiting in the arrivals terminal.
In addition, there was an increase in the number of supervisors on the floor operating during this period with the number increased from four juniors to eight.
Officials said that the Police had been carrying out their duties effectively with an increased presence to ease the congestion.
Outside the airport, the porters were in a hurry and were too excited to even talk with one rushing off saying “I can’t talk now – it’s the last two hours (before the airport closes).”
However, towards 6.30 am traffic had eased and in fact some passengers asserted that the situation inside the airport was like on normal days. Two tourists rushing off with their chauffeur shouting out “Everything was good.”
It was also found out that passengers were prompt enough to report to the airport five hours as stipulated by the authorities to ease the congestion during the morning hours of the first day.
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment at the airport were said to be permitted to handle only document checks when passengers arrive at the counter.
Runaway runway
The BIA’s runway needed resurfacing as the 20 year usage period had lapsed since being built in 1986. The lifespan of this runway is 20 years or 200,000 flight movements.
The airport has daily flight traffic of 164 aircrafts with 25,000 passengers and 300 MT of cargo during usual operations.
The 3,350 metre length runway will undergo a re-surfacing or strengthening of the existing pavement (runway surface). The cracks that had come about on the runway were caused as a result of the time, weather and load.
Head of Civil Engineering (Planning and Designs) G. Withanage explained that these were very dangerous since particles could get sucked into the aircraft.
The resurfacing would regain the required strength and increase the life span for another 20 years including for the use of A380 aircraft, he said.
The cracked surface which is within a 20 mm deep is removed and the overlay is carried out for which they would place a protection layer for the cracks called synchronized crack ceiling. Next they would place another binding course to bind the top and existing layers and get rid of any depression. The surface course would also improve the friction level and the drainage facilities of the runway, Mr. Withanage said.
He noted that they would work on about 200 metres each day during this period. Once work is completed for 200 metres it is allowed to set/harden until it is firm enough to be used every time the airport re-opens at 4.30 pm daily.
Moreover, the ground lighting on the airfield would be changed from the existing 30 year-old cable system with halogen lights to 2500 LED lights (making it easy for pilots) that would save at least 70 per cent of energy and cables converted to conduits. The lighting itself costs the airport Rs. 2.5 billion, it was explained. The approach lights at a space of 900 metres on either ends of the runway would also be replaced.
Operations on hold
Airport authorities have informed the public through travel agents and other industry stakeholders that all business jets and domestic operations would be handled at the Ratmalana airport.
In addition, military operations during the day would have to be operated from other airports with limited operations permitted after re-opening, subject to the availability of slots or space to allow these aircraft on the runway.
Training flights had also been put on hold on this runway for three months, according to authorities.
Plans afoot
Transit passengers were to be permitted upto 12 hours stay in the transit lounge and airlines were requested to segregate transit passengers on arrival.
The airport was to increase the number of lounge chairs made available by 1000.
And as per the general winter (November to April) schedule there were to be 1,138 flights in operation at the BIA that had been reduced to 992 which is a trimming of 146 flights.
In addition, passenger movements would also witness a reduction of about 12.8 per cent, authorities said.