Mattala: landmark in aviation history

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially commences construction work of Sri Lanka’s second International Airport in Hambantota.

Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister Sarath Gunaratne and Chairman Airport Aviation, Prasanna J. Wickramasuriya unveiling the plaque of the transit hotel. A Kuwait Group leader being garlanded at the BIA lounge while CEO Mihin, Chandrasena looks on.

The Mattala intentional airport would be cynosure of all eyes when it would become one of the speedily completed airports in world aviation history.

Construction began when President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially commenced the country’s second international Airport at Mattala in Hambantota District on November 27 last year.

The Chinese Covernment provides financial assistance for this much needed project. The area allocated for the airport is 2,000 hectares. Construction will take place under two stages and the Minister of Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa speaking to Sunday Observer said that the first aircraft is expected to land next year at the Mattala Intentional Airport.

This includes all basic facilities such as the runway, taxiways and hanger (parking) facilities envisaged for the first phase of the project.

Up to now Sri Lanka did not have an alternative international Airport. It is imperative to have such a facility to reduce congestion at the BIA.

The Capital Investment for the project is Rs. 19,250 Million. The main objectives of this project are to develop an alternative airport to the Bandaranike International Airport (BIA) and reduce air traffic congestion at the BIA.

The project would include the Construction of a four km runway an airport parking apron, a taxiway connecting the runway and apron and a terminal building, terminal facilities inclusive of space for cargo handling and cargo storage, fuel farm and fire services building.

All the other airport and aviation related facilities will be completed in the second phase. These include servicing and repairing centre for aircraft, hotels, pilot training centre, maintenance hub, private jet parking and technical training centre.

The total project to be completed by 2012 will help develop infrastructure facilities in the area while providing more direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth in the district. The project is an eco-friendly project.

Air passenger services are being provided under competitive rates through Mihin Air under a subsidized scheme to countries such as India, Maldives and Dubai.

In addition discussions are also under way to conduct airline crew tests and training facilities at Mattala bringing in additional revenue to the project.

Meanwhile, the BIA too is undergoing a major development drive to meet the projected future demands. (Air traffic facility is increasing annually by 10 percent.)

Under the development project it will help to accommodate the increasing air traffic demand. The Government hopes to invest Rs. 30,184 million for this project. This would include the construction of a passenger terminal building and airport parking apron, roads and multi-level car park, a power supply system, a water supply system and sewage treatment system.

Landing facilities to facilitate A 380 Aircraft too are to be expanded and the project is to be completed by 2012.

The Bandaranaike International Airport formally known as Colombo Airport was built by British in the mid 1940’s.

During the time the airport was called Royal Airport Katunayaka (RAK). The sole purpose of building this Airport by the British was to replace their lost airports in India, Pakistan and Nepal.

Primarily the airport was used as an air force base and supply centre for the aircraft engaged in World War II. After the independence (i.e. 1948) the Royal Ceylon Air Force was formed and they expanded their air power by establishing the headquarters at Katunayaka.

The proposed Mattala Airport

In 1983 the airport was renovated and expanded further to facilitate more passengers. These include new terminal building, Navigational Services Complex (NSC) and ICAO category III navigational equipment. These improvements to the airport had tremendously encouraged more civil aircraft to use it as a staging post to rest crews and passengers of aircraft in transits.

Since then major developments took place in the last three years with improvements to the VIP lounge, duty free and added many other infrastructure facilities.

Transit Hotel opens at BIA

Minister of Ports and Aviation, Chamal Rajapaksa declared open the newly constructed Transit Hotel Complex at the Bandaranaike International Airport recently.

This hotel complex consists of 24 rooms categorised into four types depending on the facilities provided. It also has facilities of a conference hall and spa. Passengers who arrive at BIA can now relax with comfort, refresh themselves and continue their journey.

Airport and Aviation Services Limited said that this project which facilitates the passengers travelling via BIA earns additional foreign exchange for the country too. The Minister inspected the ongoing development projects at the airport to see for himself the current status.

Domestic airports have a similar history which extends up to 70 years including the exceptional water runway of Koggala.

Today both Palali and Trincomalee domestic airports are being developed with regular scheduled flights already operating.

Air Lanka was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka in July 1979 following the closure of Air Ceylon in 1978. Initially, the new air carrier operated two Boeing 707 jets on lease from Singapore Airlines. During the 1980s, the Airline increased the number of destinations served and made additions to its fleet. By 1990, AirLanka served 26 destinations. In December 1992, the airline purchased its first Airbus A320.

Mihin Lanka commercial air services caters mainly to medium and low income travellers as well as those seeking employment overseas . Religious pilgrims are also catered to. Mihin Lanka currently flies to Dubai, Kuwait. Gaya, Trichi and Varanasi.

Capital Investment for the airline was Rs. 3,000 Million. Mihin Lanka carrying over 160,000 passengers so far have shown profits said CEO Kapila Chandrasena.

Commenting on the future plans of the airline he said that they would be bringing their second aircraft soon and it would fly to Dhaka and Male. “We are also looking at Myanmar and more destinations in India,” he said.

In addition, for the first time Sri Lanka’s budget airline Mihin Lanka got involved in tourism promotion by flying in a group of over 50 travellers from Kuwait.

The up market group representing the Association of Academic Staff in applied Colleges, in Kuwait stayed for almost one week in Sri Lanka visiting Kandy and the South Coast.