In a bid to meet the growing demand for international and domestic air travel, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, has given the green light for a significant upgrade to passenger facilities at Palali Airport.
The operations at Palali International Airport continue to demonstrate remarkable success.
Specifically, the flight operations between Madras and Palali, which are scheduled three times a week, have already completed a total of 200 flights, underscoring the airport’s increasing prominence and efficiency
The decision comes after a special inspection visit to the airport on October 16, where the Minister witnessed the increasing number of passengers arriving and departing from this strategically located airport.
With the anticipation of a surge in operations, Minister de Silva stressed the need for substantial improvements in both the arrival and departure terminals at Palali Airport.
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited officials have estimated that these upgrades will come with a price tag of approximately Rs.200 million.
The proposed programme is set to encompass a comprehensive enhancement of airport infrastructure.
This includes expanding the existing passenger terminals, constructing a state-of-the-art duty-free shopping complex to cater to the burgeoning tourist population, upgrading sanitary facilities for the convenience of passengers, and improving facilities for immigration and customs officials to ensure efficient processes.
Palali Airport currently operates as an international airport, serving as a crucial gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula. India’s Alliance Air currently operates daily flights from Chennai, bringing in around 60 passengers per flight.
Additionally, IndiGo airline from India is gearing up to commence flights between Chennai and Palali, further boosting international connectivity in the region.
Alongside these international flights, there are also domestic services operated by DP Aviation and Cinnamon Air. Four aircraft from each airline currently operate weekly flights from Ratmalana Airport and Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport, catering to the increasing number of travellers.
Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reportedly said that Palaly Airport in the country’s northern Jaffna peninsula will have all basic facilities conforming to international standards
A few airlines in India have already expressed a desire to commence operations when the airport is commissioned for international operations.
The length of the runway is 2,300m of which 950m has been refurbished and it has a width of 45m
