Two new cargo airlines eye Sri Lanka as regional hub
The Morning: Two new cargo airlines have expressed an interest in commencing operations in Sri Lanka from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reveals.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business on 27 March, CAA Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sagara Kotakadeniya stated that during the previous week, two cargo airlines had expressed their intent to commence operations at the BIA and MRIA.
Commenting further, he stated that the aim of the CAA was to make the MRIA a hub for air passengers and cargo.
“The interest to commence operations at the MRIA is very positive. Therefore, we have encouraged them to come to the airport. One airline will be coming to the MRIA and the other to the BIA,” he stated.
He stated that the entry of these cargo airlines to Sri Lanka was a positive development because on one hand, they could cater to the country’s cargo transport needs while on the other hand, they represented a viable means of generating revenue through the collection of parking charges and handling fees.
Accordingly, Kotakadeniya stated that they would proactively engage with these cargo airlines to facilitate their entry to the country.
He further revealed that Cathay Pacific had verbally consented to expand its operations in Sri Lanka from two flights per week to five flights per week.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean, the strong trade ties and economic expansion witnessed in the country have all helped the country move closer to its target of becoming a hub in the South Asian region. The growth and business potential in the country as well as the increasing business interest in Sri Lanka have added to the increase in the flights operated by international airlines to the country while cargo operations have also shown a steady growth. While it is an encouraging sign for other foreign businesses engaged in the aviation and cargo handling sectors to explore the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka, there is a growing need for the expansion of infrastructure and supplementary infrastructure facilities required to meet the growing demand. All these movements are indicative of the expanding business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s airport, aviation and logistics sectors. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore look at the overall business/investment opportunities in all key economic sectors in the country with special focus on the emerging opportunities in Sri Lanka’s airport, aviation and logistics sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250402/Z_5 |