200 flights cancelled as BIA closes for maintenance

5 October 2016 11:36 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Over 200 flights are to be cancelled from January to April 2017 due to maintenance work at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman, Ajith Dias said today.

The airport will remain closed from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm each day from January 6, 2017 to April 6, 2017.

Video by Sanath Desmond

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 30

raj Wednesday, 05 October 2016 02:12 PM

06 Jan - 30 Apr .. 114 days. Max 2 flights per day between 830 am -4.30 pm.. No big deal. Can survive.

Ravi Thursday, 06 October 2016 03:04 PM

Have some free shuttle buses strictly for passengers ONLY. This can be seen in other countries between international

Gem bureau Thursday, 06 October 2016 01:49 PM

Oh God , our scam will run out of business

gajaman Thursday, 06 October 2016 01:28 AM

Poor planning, total breakdown in leadership.

Lala Thursday, 06 October 2016 01:07 AM

Passengers are going to be robbed by MR's goons.

Darrel Herman Thursday, 06 October 2016 12:22 AM

The management acts like blind idiots. Why not use Mattala airport which has all the modern facilities. Why not schedule a proper transport facility for the passengers. Isn't that the wise way to solve the problem instead of looking forward to count the losses?

Henry Thursday, 06 October 2016 12:12 AM

Is this the same Government who proposed 5 new domestic airports in Sri Lanka? Looks the available Airport constructed is suitable only for emergency landing of any Air Craft. It's name of the air port is withheld as it's allergic to many!

Pubudu Fernando Thursday, 06 October 2016 12:08 AM

Providing transport to the passengers is much cheaper than wawing hand to a great loss. That's how other countries deal with similar situation.

Viagra John Thursday, 06 October 2016 12:07 AM

Come on gentlemen ...Don't just sit there and talk about loses..!! There is an alternative airport just 200km across..Do something... ask someone.... be proactive..think out of the box.....remove the paddy bags ...clean up....Start city check in ..Use busses trucks ....do not wait until it's too late ...do something please..

JJ Wednesday, 05 October 2016 05:58 PM

Please use Mattla Air port as the second Air port in the country

Harry Wednesday, 05 October 2016 04:32 PM

Why can't the current government do it???

Harry Wednesday, 05 October 2016 04:30 PM

Revenue from 200 flights and passengers [mainly tourists] are much more than providing transport? Have you even passed 5th Standard math???

jml Wednesday, 05 October 2016 04:21 PM

be good to enroute to mattala for making profits. please do not waste. via DM Android App

Ruzh Wednesday, 05 October 2016 04:16 PM

Noone simply just "cancel" flights like that without giving an alternative. The foolish is yourself for living in a bubble

Dee Wednesday, 05 October 2016 03:59 PM

Dont even propose mattala as an alternative. Who wants to travel 4 hours by road, for a 3 hour flight?

ziyard Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:05 PM

why not use mattala ?please give some respect to MR,guys....

Mandy Wednesday, 05 October 2016 02:07 PM

Airline industry safety regulators ensure standards for runways. You just do not know.

Bala Wednesday, 05 October 2016 02:06 PM

But airlines just do not take by-roads like cars. The cost of insurance to unknown badly built airports is costly. So is the transport to Colombo - who pays for that.

murshid Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:43 PM

Horse has already bolted.Results of the long awaited coming .End result of the corrupt practices of the MR regime these r long term in nature and should have been rectified five or six years bac by the then sitting MR regime

ruwan Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:37 PM

Looks like very soon we will not have an airline and a airport...

Lonpol Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:36 PM

Foolish act..better to appoint new professional management under new finance minister..

karigalan Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:13 PM

instead of Matala air port if MR would have expand the terminal 2 in BIA we will not face this problemwhat a waste of money by this MR

Dinu Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:11 PM

Hey don't try close foolishly this is not your property plsPls pls don't close u need to find alternative ,pls use Mathala

Cheers Wednesday, 05 October 2016 01:09 PM

Such a inefficient government good luck the hoteliers

Kale Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:57 PM

Did anyone check on the impact of this?This is ridiculous, 1 airport catering for all the flights for the entire country, and closed completely for 8 hours a day for 3 months.Insane.Who are these idiots?

seshan Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:54 PM

why cancel when we can use maththala come on Gove WAKE UP

De Silva Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:41 PM

People say to reroute to Mattala. If so who is going to provide transport to Colombo. Who is going to foot the bill. ???Foolish suggestions

kan Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:32 PM

Why cancel? Could be re-routed to Mattala Int.Airport.

Lal Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:23 PM

If MR listened to SESMA experts and built the second runway of BIA and emergency airstrip in Puttalam instead of worlds emptiest airport things would have better

Raz Wednesday, 05 October 2016 12:05 PM

Add to this the loss of revenue from tourism as this period falls during the height of the tourist season. via DM Android App

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

200 flights cancelled as BIA closes for maintenance

Comments - 30

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES