AASL Signs Contract for Runway Overlay at Bandaranaike International Airport

September 01, 2016

AASL signed an agreement with the contractors awarded with the works of “design and build of Runway overlay of BIA” on 1st September 2016. The contractor for the project is a Joint Venture between China National Aero Technology International Group (CATIC) and Shanghai New Era Airport Design and Research Company Ltd of Civil Aviation Authority of China. The total contract sum is US$ 48,600,406.52 plus taxes, and the project is self-funded by AASL. Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) who were the design consultants for the BIA runway when it was built in 1986 will provide Engineering Consultancy for this overlay as well.

The Project includes the overlay of the existing runway, widening of the runway to meet modified Code F compliances (A380), overlay of parallel taxiway and connecting taxiways, design of new High speed rapid exit taxiways (RETs) for the arrivals and by pass taxiways for the departures, installation of new airfield ground lighting (AGL) system, and modification to existing apron. As a result, the runway capacity will increase to 35 movements per hour from the present capacity of 25 movements per hour.

Overlay of the runway will be carried out during the period from 6th Jan 2017 to 5th April 2017 during the daytime from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. To enable this, all scheduled flights to BIA will be rescheduled to times outside the above slot. The slot committee informs that only around 10% of the scheduled flight need to be cancelled and the rest will be accommodated within the rescheduled time table. Meanwhile, MRIA is fully geared to accommodate any airline that wishes to operate there for connectivity during this period.

Photos by: AASL Media