Mattala airport records highest passenger numbers in 2025

Colombo, Feb. 5 (Daily Mirror) - Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) recorded its highest-ever passenger movements in 2025, handling 140,614 passengers, the Airport and Aviation Services Company said.

The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation said this marked the largest number of passenger movements since the airport was inaugurated in 2013.

The airport also successfully handled 703 international flights during the year. Officials noted that passenger numbers have shown continuous growth over the past three years, with increased attention given to Mattala Airport following the appointment of the new government playing a key role in achieving this milestone.

Previously, airlines had been reluctant to operate flights to Mattala due to safety concerns related to wildlife in the surrounding area. However, the new government has taken positive measures to address these issues, resulting in a significant increase in flight operations in 2025.

Reflecting growing confidence in the airport, several international airlines launched services to Mattala in 2025, connecting Sri Lanka with Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. These include Red Wings from Russia, SkyUp from Bahrain and Pakistan, Fly One from Dubai, Centrum Air and Uzbekistan Airways from Uzbekistan, and Bulgaria Air from Bulgaria. In addition, Belavia Airlines from Minsk, Belarus, is scheduled to commence flights to Mattala for the first time in 2025.

Mattala International Airport continues to play an important role in promoting Sri Lanka’s tourism industry due to its proximity to key domestic tourist destinations. The airport also holds strategic value as an alternative to the increasingly congested Bandaranaike International Airport.

Built at a cost of billions of rupees and once criticized for underutilization, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport’s record passenger arrivals in 2025 mark a significant turning point, raising fresh hopes for its future contribution to the national economy.