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Last Updated : 2023-03-21 04:30:00
The landing of the Emirates A380 aircraft at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) proves that the newly resurfaced runway is suitable for the landing of any aircraft, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.
He said several media reports and some politicians had claimed that the runway, resurfaced after 30 years at a cost of Rs.7.2 billion, was not up to international standards and was unsuitable for large aircraft such as an A380 to land on.
The Aviation Ministry said the 3,350-metre-long and 75-metre-wide runway, which was opened for operations in April after a three-month long period of renovation could accommodate an Airbus A380.
“I am happy that all misconceptions will be cleared after the landing of the Emirates A380 aircraft on Monday, helping Sri Lanka and the airport to achieve an aviation milestone. It proves that Sri Lanka now has a runway which could handle any aircraft in the world,” the minister said.
The special one-off Emirates A380 flight EK654 from Dubai had 524 passengers on board.
The minister said Emirates officials had agreed to operate an A380 flight monthly initially from Dubai to Colombo . “It will bring more tourists to the country and help develop the tourism industry as well,” the minister said and added that several development projects had been launched at the BIA under the second phase.
He said the Mattala Airport would be developed to function as a popular airpovrt in the country with a project initiated with the Indian investors to bring aircraft to the MRIA.(Darshana Sanjeewa)
Rasika Wednesday, 16 August 2017 09:16 AM
Among all the negative news that we read, it is refreshing to see this kind of a positive news article once in a way.
BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 16 August 2017 10:14 AM
An A380 landing inside banana republic is big news.
Ron Wednesday, 16 August 2017 12:28 PM
Wouldn't that a big news for a Buffaloa?
Hiran Wednesday, 16 August 2017 01:50 PM
After a 7Bn renovation, it damn well be a big news.
Roahan Wednesday, 16 August 2017 10:40 AM
GOOD NEWS, We should Expedite the Terminal Renovation and Upgrading, Its congested all the Time
Ruwan Wednesday, 16 August 2017 12:05 PM
Yeah, A380 once landed long before the runway was resurfaced.
Roshan Wednesday, 16 August 2017 12:44 PM
THATS WAS A EMERGENCY LANDING WE WERE NOT READY ACCORDING TO IATA REQUIREMENT
Duckman Wednesday, 16 August 2017 12:06 PM
Would be nice if they would start building the second terminal now.
AUSLANKA Wednesday, 16 August 2017 12:24 PM
I am sure it would have been a daunting task for the airport staff to educate this incompetent minister of the airport functionalities than the upgrading the runaway itself.
Sarneris Wednesday, 16 August 2017 01:27 PM
But the "Jaathi Maamakas" will not be happy as it brings more foreign invaders.
EngineerD Wednesday, 16 August 2017 04:39 PM
Undoubtedly it is a suitable runway, only crooked politicians are talking rubbish. Give publicity to this success with photos.
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