BIA handles 4.7 million passengers in first half of 2026

Colombo, July 15 (Daily Mirror) - Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) handled more than 4.7 million passenger movements during the first six months of 2026, highlighting continued growth in Sri Lanka's aviation and tourism sectors.

In a statement marking its mid-year operational performance, BIA said it recorded 4,748,481 passenger movements and 30,659 aircraft movements between January and June 2026.

The airport also handled 424,856 transit passenger movements during the period, reflecting its role as a regional aviation hub.

According to the figures released by BIA, 1,146,573 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka during the first half of the year.

BIA said it remains committed to connecting people, cultures and opportunities while continuing to support the growth of Sri Lanka's tourism and aviation industries. It also expressed confidence in achieving stronger performance during the second half of 2026.