Sri Lanka’s Northern Palaly Airport to accommodate regional flights from September
Sri Lanka’s State Minister for Civil Aviation Ashoka Abeysinghe has reportedly stated that the upgraded Palaly airport in the country’s Northern Jaffna peninsula will be able to accommodate regional airliners from the Indian subcontinent from September.
“The runway will be able to accommodate aircraft carrying about 70 passengers,” Abeysinghe has been quoted as saying.
“We hope to have the first flight by September.”
The Minister has noted that there was potential to commence scheduled flights to destinations like Chennai.
According to reports, Sri Lanka has just kicked off a Rs. 2 billion upgrade to the airport that will see a renovated runway, a better terminal and a temporary air traffic control tower being set up.
The Minister has further stated that there is space to build 3,800 metre runway that can accommodate Airbus A320 size short haul aircraft but only 2,300 metres will be brought to required civil aviation standards by September.
He has added that Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority (RDA) was building a new access road from Thelippily to the airport at Palaly.
OSL take:
The development of Sri Lanka’s Palaly Airport in the Northern Province would further boost the country’s trade and tourism sectors. The regional airport would facilitate easy and quick passenger as well as goods transportation between Sri Lanka and countries in the region, especially India. It could help Sri Lanka reap the full benefits of the free trade agreement with India. Foreign businesses/investors looking at doing business with the South Asian region, especially India, could explore the possibility of setting up base in Sri Lanka. Also, Indian businesses/investors could explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s trade and tourism sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/30072019/Z_1 |