Sri Lanka airport passenger throughput surge 24-pct up to June 2018

ECONOMYNEXT  – Passenger movements at Sri Lanka’s main international airport in Katunayake had surged 24.3 percent from a year earlier to 6.4 million in the first half of 2018, while cargo handling has also recovered from a slump in last year, official data showed.

In the first half 2017 total passenger movements only grew 0.5 percent to 6.4 million with the airport closed for half day due to runaway repairs.

Some aircraft were diverted to Mattala during the period. Aircraft movements at Mattala had fallen to 281 in the first half of 2018 from 980 a year earlier.

Aircraft movements in Katunayake had grown 19.4 percent from a year earlier to 35,908 during the year compared in the first half 2018.

The airport is operating over its capacity and an expansion project is underway.