Colombo–Bandaranaike International Airport බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ பண்டாரநாயக்க சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Airport type | Public / military | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Colombo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Katunayake, Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1967; 58 years ago (1967) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | SLST (UTC+05:30) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 26 ft / 8 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 07°10′52″N79°53′01″E / 7.18111°N 79.88361°E /7.18111; 79.88361 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  CMB/VCBI Location of airport in Sri Lanka Show map of Sri Lanka CMB/VCBI CMB/VCBI (Asia) Show map of Asia | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Source:Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka[2] | |||||||||||||||||||
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) (commonly known asColombo International Airport,Colombo–Bandaranaike International Airport, and locally asKatunayake International Airport) (IATA:CMB,ICAO:VCBI) is the main international airport inSri Lanka. It is named after former Prime MinisterS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike (1899–1959) and is in the suburb ofNegombo, 32.5 kilometres (20+1⁄4 miles) north of the nation's capital and commercial center,Colombo.
It is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and serves as thehub ofSriLankan Airlines, thenational carrier of Sri Lanka,Fitsair, a privately owned low-cost carrier, and domestic carrierCinnamon Air.
The other airport serving the city of Colombo isRatmalana International Airport.
The airport began as aRoyal Air Force airfield in 1944 during theSecond World War,RAF Negombo withNo. 45 Squadron RAF (1946–49),[3]No. 232 Squadron RAF (1945),[4]No. 249 Squadron RAF (1950)[5] andNo. 1303 Flight RAF (1945–46).[6] In 1957, Prime MinisterS. W. R. D. Bandaranaike removed all the British Military airfields from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and the airfield was handed over to theRoyal Ceylon Air Force (RCAF) and renamed Katunayake; part of it still remains a military airfield. In 1964Anil Moonesinghe, the Minister of Communications, started the building of a new international airport to replaceRatmalana, with Canadian aid. The airport was completed in 1967, andAir Ceylon, the national carrier, began international operations from it using aHawker Siddeley Trident and aVickersVC-10 leased fromBritish Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). It was named after former Prime MinisterSWRD Bandaranaike, in 1970. It was renamed Katunayake International Airport in 1977, but reverted to Bandaranaike International Airport in 1995.[7]
On 7 November 1971, the firstBoeing 747 landed at the airport. The Boeing 747-200B was operated byCondor carrying German tourists fromFrankfurt. In the early 1990s the position of the airport's runway (04/22) was shifted northward and the old runway was made into ataxiway for departing and arriving aircraft. Airport expansion projects have recently been undertaken at the airport under the Stage 1, Phase II Expansion Project. A pier with eightaero-bridges opened in November 2005. A new terminal with an additional eight gates are proposed to be built under Stage II of the Phase II Expansion Project. Construction of the new Stage II, Phase II Expansion Project is expected to commence in April 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2020.[citation needed]
On 7 May 2007, the Sri Lankan Government shifted military aviation operations out of the space adjoining the airport toSLAF Hingurakgoda, thus paving the way for the expansion of civilian operations. As part of the airport development program, a passenger-train service was launched between the Airport and Colombo Secretariat Station, in June 2010.[8] The airport is used byEmirates as an alternative emergency airport for itsAirbus A380 aircraft.[8][9] On 9 January 2012, anAirbus A380-800 operated byEmirates landed at Bandaranaike International Airport. This was the first time an Airbus A380 had landed in a Sri Lankan airport.[10]
SriLankan Airlines is the largest airline operating at the airport, with a fleet of 27 Airbus aircraft.[11]
Bandaranaike International Airport (airport code CMB[12]) at Katunayake, Sri Lanka, is 32.5 kilometers north of the national capital, Colombo. 37 airlines currently serve the airport's over 10.79 million annual passengers.[13] The airport has three passenger terminals. Terminal 1 is the current international terminal, built in 1967. Terminal 2 is the new international terminal, which is expected to be completed in 2025. Terminal 3 is the new domestic terminal, which opened in November 2012.
The Bandaranaike International Airport has a single runway (04/22), with an asphalt surface. The take-off and landing distances are 3,441 m and 3,350 m respectively.[16] In addition, Phase II of the BIA expansion project is to have a second runway, also able to accommodate the A380, with another taxiway to the second runway.
| Runways | Length | Surface material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 3,350 metres (10,990 ft) | Asphalt | Current runway in use |
| 04L/22R (planned) | 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) | Asphalt | Planned in Phase II |
| 04R/22L (planned) | 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) | Asphalt | Planned in Phase II |
Aircraft such as theBoeing 777,A350-1000 andBoeing 747 are the largest aircraft that the runway can currently accommodate. There have been instances where even larger aircraft have landed at the airport but had to use excessive braking to stop. This has resulted in the aircraft's brakes overheating.
Bandaranaike International Airport has six lounges. There are four paid lounges: the Executive Lounge, Silk Route Arrival and Departure Lounges, and Gold Route Arrival and Departure Lounges. Passengers transiting via CMB can pay around US$21 per person for a 3 to 6 hour stay. Additionally, there are two "Privilege Lounges," namely the Lotus Lounge and Araliya Lounge.SriLankan Airlines also operates its own Serendib Lounge, which passengers travelling in business class can access for free. Lounges provide complimentary food and drink services.
The airport has three open air parking areas. The remote car park is located about 300m away from the terminal, and can accommodate cars, vans, double cabs and jeeps.
Phase II of the airport expansion project aims to build a five-storey car park to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.
The airport has four available frequencies that pilots can use to communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC). The first is the Bandaranaike International Airport Approach at 132.4 MHz, and the other is Bandaranaike International Airport Tower at 118.7 MHz. Ground communication is at 121.9 MHz, while ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) is at 127.2 MHz.
Colombo Director (BIA approach) - 132.4Mhz
Bandaranaike International Airport Tower - 118.7Mhz
Bandaranaike International Airport Ground - 121.9 MHz
Bandaranaike International Airport ATIS - 127.2 MHz
The airport underwent resurfacing of itsrunway, and to celebrate,Emirates launched a one-offA380 flight operated as EK654 from Dubai, replacing theB777 aircraft usually deployed by Emirates on flights to Sri Lanka.
Future projects include a second runway to support theAirbus A380, a further eight passengergates, a domesticterminal, a five-storey car-park, and a five-star hotel neighbouring the airport. Construction of new approach channels to the airport began in April 2017.[17]
A new split-level passenger terminal building, which separates arrivals and departures vertically, a new pier with eight boarding gates, and fourteen passenger boarding bridges, with a dedicated gate comprising two passenger boarding bridges for the newAirbus A380, will be included in the proposed new complex. There would also be a remote apron and an additional nine parking stands to ease air traffic movement. There would be a tax-free apparel shopping mall at the Katunayake BOI Zone to attract more business visitors to Sri Lanka. The mall is to be adjacent to the arrival terminal and connected by a sky bridge.
The second stage will involve the acquisition of 600 ha (1,500 acres) of public land, the construction of a runway capable of accommodating new-generation airplanes, an aircraft repair and maintenance center, an arrival and a departure terminal, a shopping arcade, a cargo complex connected to the airport by rail and a multi-storey car park. Under the Development Project Phase II, Stage 2, a second passenger terminal and a required utility for a second terminal will be constructed. The terminal, aircraft parking apron, and public utilities will also be expanded. The existing airport terminal will be converted to a domestic and regional terminal, when the new complex is ready. A two-tier passenger terminal with arrivals and departures physically separated as found in most modern airports will also be constructed. A rapid exit to theColombo–Katunayake Expressway will be provided directly from the terminal.
The construction work of Package B –"Remote Apron and Taxiways" commenced in April 2017.
The second phase of the expansion project is being carried out with Japanese assistance and is expected to be completed by 2025.
The second phase of the expansion project at Katunayake Airport is under way with Japanese assistance, and was initially projected for completion by 2025. However, due to current delays, there is a possibility of extended timelines, potentially leading to completion by late 2026 to 2027. Shown below is a summary of Phase II,
| Project phases and construction | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Development stage of Phase II | November 2007 to August 2014 | Completed |
| Submission of new design for green terminal | July 2014 | Completed |
| Launch of Stage 2 of BIA development project by Japanese premier | 7 September 2014 | Completed |
| Construction of new terminal begins | April 2017 | Ongoing |
| Phase II Construction re-launched | 18 November 2020 | - |
| Construction of second terminal halted | 2022 | - |
| Expected completion of Phase II expansion with Japanese assistance | 2025 (potential delay to late 2026 or early 2027) | - |
| Airlines | Destinations | Refs |
|---|---|---|
| Cathay Cargo | Chennai,Hong Kong | [65] |
| SF Airlines | Kunming | [66] |
| Turkish Cargo | Bengaluru,Istanbul,Mumbai–Shivaji | [67] |
From 2012 to 2023, there was a general trend of gradual increase in passenger traffic at CMB Airport. Both departures and arrivals showed steady growth over this period, with some occasional fluctuations. In 2012, there were 3,590,122 departures and 3,554,969 arrivals, totalling 7,145,091 passengers. Over the years, CMB experienced its highest amount of passenger traffic in 2018, with 5,389,082 departures and 5,409,587 arrivals, totalling an impressive 10,798,669 passengers. However, passenger numbers fluctuated. Due to the 2019 Easter bombings, passenger traffic began to slow down. During the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger traffic dwindled, reaching an all-time low of 1,231,939 departures and 792,002 arrivals in 2020, totalling 2,023,941 passengers, which was significantly lower compared to other years.
After the pandemic, passenger traffic at CMB has been recovering gradually, with a total increase of 267.5% compared to 2021.
It was expected that CMB would recover to 10 million passengers annually in 2024.
| Year | Departures | Arrivals | Total | Change in passenger traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,590,122 | 3,554,969 | 7,145,091 | N/A |
| 2013 | 3,621,822 | 3,690,047 | 7,311,869 |  2.3% (increase) |
| 2014 | 3,926,447 | 3,893,400 | 7,819,847 | 6.9% (increase) |
| 2015 | 4,252,619 | 4,273,959 | 8,526,578 | 9.0% (increase) |
| 2016 | 4,657,456 | 4,684,762 | 9,342,218 | 9.6% (increase) |
| 2017 | 4,851,216 | 4,970,549 | 9,821,765 | 5.1% (increase) |
| 2018 | 5,389,082 | 5,409,587 | 10,798,669 | 9.9% (increase) |
| 2019 | 4,970,184 | 4,930,455 | 9,900,639 |  8.3% (decrease) |
| 2020 | 1,231,939 | 1,140,989 | 2,372,928 | 76.0% (decrease) |
| 2021 | 708,076 | 792,002 | 1,500,078 | 36.8% (decrease) |
| 2022 | 2,878,370 | 2,624,169 | 5,502,539 | 267.5% (increase) |
| 2023 | 3,837,541 | 3,637,041 | 7,474,582 | 35.7% (increase) |
| 2024 | 4,430,361 | 4,373,361 | 8,804,019 | 35.7% (increase) |
Beginning in 2012 with 46,616 scheduled and 2,118 non-scheduled flights, the numbers consistently increased until 2019, with fluctuations during the subsequent years due to the Easter bombings, COVID-19, and the prevailing economic situation in the country. Despite this, substantial recovery was observed in 2022 and 2023. It is expected to recover to 2018 numbers by 2024 and 2025, respectively.
| Year | Departures | Arrivals | Total | Change in passenger traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 46,616 | 2,118 | 48,734 | N/A |
| 2013 | 48,413 | 2,556 | 50,969 | 4.7% (increase) |
| 2014 | 51,897 | 3,391 | 55,288 | 8.4% (increase) |
| 2015 | 54,137 | 4,592 | 58,729 | 6.6% (increase) |
| 2016 | 59,666 | 5,949 | 65,615 | 11.1% (increase) |
| 2017 | 61,295 | 4,586 | 65,881 | 0.4% (increase) |
| 2018 | 66,175 | 983 | 67,158 | 1.5% (increase) |
| 2019 | 60,883 | 992 | 61,875 | 7.8% (decrease) |
| 2020 | 19,442 | 1,300 | 20,742 | 66.5% (decrease) |
| 2021 | 18,738 | 2,269 | 20,007 | 3.6% (decrease) |
| 2022 | 35,917 | 1,682 | 37,599 | 87.9% (increase) |
| 2023 | 44,995 | 1,309 | 46,304 | 23.1% (increase) |
| 2024 | 53,895 | 1,953 | 55,848 | 23.1% (increase) |
From 2012 to 2023, there was fluctuating trends in cargo movements, with notable increases and decreases over the years. For instance, there were steady increases in cargo volume from 2012 to 2018, followed by a significant decrease in 2021 to 2023. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cargo volumes are expected to recover by 2024 to 2025.
| Year | Outbound | Inbound | Total | Change in cargo volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 95,411 | 63,161 | 158,572 | N/A |
| 2013 | 108,043 | 66,602 | 174,645 | 10.2% (increase) |
| 2014 | 119,447 | 71,776 | 191,223 | 9.5% (increase) |
| 2015 | 115,400 | 77,040 | 192,440 | 0.6% (decrease) |
| 2016 | 116,585 | 98,446 | 215,031 | 11.7% (increase) |
| 2017 | 146,920 | 107,349 | 254,269 | 18.2% (increase) |
| 2018 | 152,748 | 113,516 | 266,264 | 4.7% (increase) |
| 2019 | 162,011 | 106,485 | 268,496 | 0.8% (increase) |
| 2020 | 151,547 | 94,859 | 246,406 | 8.2% (decrease) |
| 2021 | 86,327 | 49,766 | 136,093 | 44.7% (decrease) |
| 2022 | 111,463 | 72,676 | 184,139 | 35.2% (increase) |
| 2023 | 103,357 | 63,612 | 166,969 | 9.5% (decrease) |
| 2024 | 116,749 | 78,630 | 195,379 | 35.2% (increase) |
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Bandaranaike International Airport connects to 52 airports across 27 countries. The airport operates an average of around 590 scheduled international flights weekly. The routes between Colombo (CMB) andDubai (DXB),Male (MLE), andChennai (MAA) are the busiest, with an average of 53 flights operating between these destinations per week.
| Rank | Destination | Country | Frequency (weekly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai (DXB) |  UAE | 59 |
| 2 | Malé (MLE) |  Maldives | 50 |
| 3 | Chennai (MAA) |  India | 48 |
| 4 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) |  Malaysia | 38 |
| 5 | Doha (DOH) |  Qatar | 35 |
| 6 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | UAE | 32 |
| 7 | Bangkok (BKK/DMK) |  Thailand | 29 |
| 8 | Mumbai (BOM) | India | 28 |
| 9 | Delhi (DEL) | India | 28 |
| 10 | Bangalore (BLR) | India | 24 |
| 11 | Kuwait (KWI) |  Kuwait | 21 |
| Passenger movements,[72]aircraft movements,[73]cargo movements[74] | |||
Bandaranaike International Airport serves as a hub for connecting various domestic destinations. Currently,Cinnamon Air operates several flights per week to domestic destinations, with the most popular beingBatticoloa,Trincomalee,Sigiriya, andHambanthota.
| Rank | Destination | Province | Frequency (weekly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diyawanna Sea Plane | .png) Western | 40 |
| 2 | Batticaloa (BTC) | .png) Eastern | 32 |
| 3 | Trincomalee (TRR) | 16 | |
| 4 | Sigiriya (GIU) |  Central | 16 |
| 5 | Hambantota (HRI) | .PNG) Southern | 8 |
A coach service operates every 15 minutes from the terminal toColombo via E03 Colombo – Katunayake Expressway, with a travel time of around 30 minutes.
Coach services are sometimes operated usingMitsubishi Fusa Rosa buses which can carry around 20 people. These busses are small with average legroom.
Passengers can also get buses to and from the airport to other cities such asGalle,Kadawatha,Matara, andNugegoda. These coach services are usually operated by third parties and not the airport authorities.
| Route No. | Via | Destination | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| EX2/EX3 | Makumbura Multimodal Center,Kottawa | [75] | |
| 187 | Colombo–Katunayake Expressway | Colombo Fort | [76][77] |
E03 Colombo – Katunayake Expressway is a high-speed road linking the airport to the city ofColombo with a travel time of around 20 minutes, and just a few minutes to the city ofNegombo. The airport taxi service operates a counter in the arrival lobby with a fleet of over 600 vehicles. This road is linked to coastal cities like andGalle andMatara bySouthern Highway with a travel time of 2-2.15 hours to Matara.
In addition to traditional taxi services, travelers can access ride-sharing services such asUber andPickMe. These platforms offer a reliable means of travel, allowing passengers to easily reach their destinations at an affordable price. Furthermore, the introduction of ride-sharing services has proven to be a better alternative compared to the traditional taxi services typically available at the airport.
Uber andPickMe also have dedicated pick-up points at CMB, making it easier for travelers to get picked up by drivers and reduce delays in pick-up times.
During the early 2000s and late 2010s, Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) chartered DMU units from Sri Lanka Railways, which were used to operate an Airport Express train fromColombo Fort Railway Station toKatunayake Railway Station. The train is a Japanese-builtClass S5 DMU Unit, constructed between 1969 and 1970. Initially, the train was chartered to pick up passengers from Katunayake but, as of April 2024, it is no longer in operation. Nevertheless, according to some sources, there are plans to restart the express train with more modern DMUs such as theClass S13 and Class S14. However, it remains largely speculative at this point.
A high-speed rail system is proposed to connect the city of Negombo to the city of Colombo via BIA airport by an electrified high-speed rail link to Colombo Fort, where it will connect to the proposed Colombo Light Rail. Currently, the Puttalam - Colombo Fort rail is active, using several diesel-engine-powered trains. Passengers can access commuter rail from Katunayake Railway Station and continue their journey up to Colombo Fort. From there, various intercity trains are available toBadulla,Batticaloa,Galle,Jaffna,Kandy,Matara, andTrincomalee.
However, it is important to note that Katunayake Railway Station is a low-frequency station, with trains rarely stopping there except for slow trains, commuter trains, or tanker trains used to haul jet fuel from Colombo to the airport. In terms of price comparison, rail is the cheapest option but often the slowest form of transportation out of the airport. Travelers usually opt for bus or car transportation as it is faster, albeit more expensive.
Cinnamon Air operates scheduled seaplane flights from Seeduwa Dadugam Oya near the airport usingCessna 208 aircraft.
They also operate various charter flights toRatmalana International Airport and other airports around the country.
| SLAF Katunayake | |
|---|---|
| Katunayake,Western Province | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Cantonment |
| Controlled by |  Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Website | Official website |
 | |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1944 |
| In use | 1956–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Air Commodore A.V. Jayasekara[78] |
In 1956, with the departure of theRAF from RAF Negombo, theRoyal Ceylon Air Force took over and renamed the station RCAF Katunayake. With the construction of the Bandaranaike International Airport, a major portion of the air base was taken over. However, the Sri Lanka Air Force remained and expanded its air base adjoining the International Airport. Currently it is the largest SLAF station in the country and several flying squadrons as well as ground units are based there. The Air Force Hospital is also based at SLAF Katunayake.[78]
In March 2001, on the 50th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the airfield was presented with thePresident's Colours.[79]
SLAF Base Katunayake offers a wide range of recreational and sports facilities for its personnel, including a fully equipped gymnasium, a sports arena, a swimming pool, and a cinema. The base provides accommodation to several hundred families of Air Force personnel through its married quarters complex. It serves as the main administrative element of the Southern Air Command of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The following are the formations based at SLAF Katunayake.[80]
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