News
Passenger handling capacity to increase from 6m to 15m
The new project will have ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES separated vertically and will consist of two pier buildings, Pier 2 and Pier 3. Pic by Amila Gamage
Annual passenger handling capacity at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is expected to increase from its current 6 million to 15 million upon completion of the BIA Development Project, according to Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd (AASL).
Accordingly,the hourly runway capacity will be 35 aircraft movements, up from the present 25 movements.
The scope of the project consists of construction of a new multi-level terminal building with a floor area of 180,000 sq.metres. This ‘Terminal 2’ will have ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES separated vertically and will consist of two pier buildings, Pier 2 and Pier 3. The new terminal is designed for the provision of barrier free access with many environmental-friendly initiatives, according to AASL.
Terminal 2 is expected to be available for commercial operations by 2020. Meanwhile, the AASL has planned major upgrades for the existing Terminal 1 to accommodate forecast traffic until 2020.
Facilities such as the Departure Checking and the Departure Customs areas have already been expanded as part of improvements to Terminal 1, while the ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE walkways, as well as the shopping areas in the walkways are being refurbished.
Further planned improvements include an electronic mall, modification of the existing Immigration area and Checking area expansion with upgrading of Baggage Handling system
Meanwhile, the BIA’s only runway is also set to undergo much needed improvements.
Constructed in the mid ’80s, the runway has had 950,000 aircraft operations since commencing operations. The runway had been designed to meet the operational requirements of the Boeing 747-400 which, at the time, was the most demanding aircraft in service.
After opening to air traffic, no major rehabilitation work had been carried out on the runway. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), during their audit observations, had noted cracks on the runway surface. As such, it has recommended the overlaying of the runway to improve the runway surface condition for the safe operation of aircraft.
Accordingly, the BIA runway improvement project, to be of 12-months duration, will commence soon.
The project includes overlay of the existing runway, parallel taxiway and connecting taxiways, design of new Rapid Exit Taxiways (RETs) and bypass taxiways, installation of new Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) system and modification of existing apron.
However, runway overlay work will be limited to three months from January 5 to April 5, 2017. Work will be carried out during an eight-hour runway closure from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
