Rapid growth recorded in passenger, aircraft, cargo movements in 2024: AASL

Colombo, January 24 (Daily Mirror) - The country's airports, including the main gateway Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the International Airport (JIA) and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), recorded an increase in passenger arrivals and departures in 2024, surpassing the 8.8 million mark, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said.

AASL Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Dr. Sumith de Silva, said that in 2024, the country witnessed 8.88 million passenger movements, 56,289 aircraft movements and 192,498 metric tons of cargo movements. This represents a growth of 17.69% in passenger movements, 20.69% in aircraft movements and 21.13% in cargo movements.

This achievement underscores the critical role of Sri Lanka's aviation infrastructure in connecting the region and facilitating travel, trade and commerce.

The rise in passenger traffic can be attributed to several factors, including the expansion of airline services and strategic initiatives to boost tourism. The improved connectivity has not only benefited travellers but also significantly contributed to the national economy by attracting more tourists.

In 2024, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) served over 30 airlines, including major international carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air India, IndiGo and Turkish Airlines, along with the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines.

According to Skytrax's rankings, six of the world's top 10 airlines in 2024 operated flights to Sri Lanka: Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific Airways, Turkish Airlines and Swiss International Airlines.

Several airlines, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, Turkish Airlines and Air China, increased their flight frequencies to Sri Lanka. Additionally, Thai Airways, Chongqing Airlines, Aeroflot and Cathay Pacific Airways resumed scheduled passenger flights to Colombo in 2024. Seasonal charter airlines, such as Enter Air, Edelweiss, Azur Air, SkyUp, and Air Astana, also resumed seasonal operations, bringing more tourists to the country.

Jetstar Asia commenced scheduled flights from Singapore in November 2024, while Red Wings Airlines resumed operations to Mattala in October 2024.

Centrum Air, an Uzbekistan-based carrier, and SkyUp launched seasonal operations at MRIA in December 2024. IndiGo also began international scheduled flight operations to Jaffna on September 1, 2024.

The AASL has been working diligently with airline partners and other stakeholders to deliver top-tier services and uphold high standards of safety and efficiency, ensuring a seamless travel experience for millions of passengers.