Bandaranaike International Airport
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2013) |
| බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ பண்டாரநாயகே பன்னாட்டு வானுர்தி நிலையம் Bandaranaike International Airport |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
IATA: CMB – ICAO: VCBI
 CMB
|
|||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Sri Lankan Government | ||
| Operator | Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd | ||
| Serves | Colombo | ||
| Location | Katunayake, Sri Lanka | ||
| Hub for | |||
| Elevation AMSL | 26 ft / 8 m | ||
| Coordinates | 07°10′52″N 79°53′01″E / 7.18111°N 79.88361°ECoordinates: 07°10′52″N 79°53′01″E / 7.18111°N 79.88361°E | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 04/22 | 10,991 | 3,350 | Asphalt |
| TBA | 13,125 | 4,000 | TBA |
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) (also known as Katunayake International Airport, Negombo International Airport and Colombo International Airport) (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI) is one of the two international airports serving the city of Colombo, the other is Ratmalana International Airport. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport located in southern city of Hambantota is the other international airport in Sri Lanka.
Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Katunayake, 22 miles (35 km) north of Colombo. It is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. It is the hub of SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, and Mihin Lanka, the budget airline of Sri Lanka.
Contents |
History [edit]
The airport began as a Royal Air Force airfield in 1944 during the Second World War, RAF Station Negombo
In 1957 it closed as the British left the island, and SWRD Bandaranaike removed all the British Military airfields from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the airfield was handed over to the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) and renamed Katunayake. Part of it still remains an military airfield.
In 1964 Anil Moonesinghe, the Cabinet Minister of Communications, started the building of a new international airport to replace Ratmalana, with Canadian aid. The airport was completed in 1967, and Air Ceylon, the national carrier, began international operations from it using a Hawker Siddeley Trident and a leased British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) VC-10.
It was named after former Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike, in 1970. It was renamed Katunayake International Airport in 1977, but was changed back to Bandaranaike International Airport in 1995.
It 1971 the airport received its first Boeing 747, the Boeing 747-200B was operated by Condor was carrying German tourists from Frankfurt.
In the 1990s the position of the airport's runway (04/22) was shifted northward and the old runway was made into a taxiway 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 eight aero-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 2012 and is expected to be completed in December 2015.[1]
On 7 May 2007 the Sri Lankan Government decided to shift some military aviation operations out of the space adjoining the airport to SLAF Hingurakgoda, thus paving the way for more 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.also unveiled plans to extend the Colombo-Katunayake airport express train to Ratmalana[1]
The airport is used by Emirates as an alternative emergency airport for its Airbus A380 aircraft.[1][2]
Bandaranaike International Airport is equipped with 6 double jetway gates in preparation for airlines introducing Airbus A380 service. Emirates is the first airline that will introduce the A380 to Colombo, when the airline will deploy the A380 on its daily Dubai-Colombo service.[citation needed]
On 9 January 2012, an Airbus A380-800 operated by Emirates flight EK 413 from Sydney landed at Bandaranaike International Airport. This was the first time in history that an Airbus A380 had landed in a Sri Lankan airport. EK 413 had taken-off from Sydney en route to Dubai, but needed a refueling stop. Originally planned to refuel at Singapore, it was decided to land in Colombo instead. The exact cause as to why the A380 needed to refuel is not known.[3]
On July 26, The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Sri Lanka police set up a new security system at the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake to identify criminals. The new system is expected to help identify the most wanted criminals.
Expansion and developments [edit]
The airport is undergoing resurfacing of its runway. Future projects may include a second runway to support the Airbus A380, a further eight passenger gates, a domestic terminal, a five storey car-park, and a five star hotel neighbouring the airport. New approach channels into the airport the Construction of Terminal will begin in 2012, and expected to be completed by December 2015 .[4] Earlier they said CMB's phase II will start once they complete the phase I at HRI.
A new split level passenger terminal building which separates arrivals and departures vertically, a new pier with eight boarding gates and 14 passenger boarding bridges with a dedicated gate comprising two passenger boarding bridges for the operations of the new Airbus 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 movements. There would be a tax free apparel shopping mall at the Katunayake BOI Zone to attract more business visitors to Sri Lanka. The tax free shopping mall is to be located adjacent to the arrival terminal and connected by a sky bridge
Minister Jayaratne said that a garment factory which had been built on BOI land and had since been shut down will be demolished for the expansion project.a train station will also be constructed at the BIA soon.
Once the Phase II is completed the airport will have 50 parking bays.
Project phases [edit]
The second phase of the expansion project is being carried out with Japanese assistance and is expected to be completed by 2015
- November 2007 to August 2009 development project of Phase II
- 2012-2015 the construction is to commence in mid-2013 and due to be completed by December 2015
Runway and expansion [edit]
The Bandaranaike international airport has a single runway (04/22) with asphalt surface. The take-off and landing distances of the runway are 3,441m and 3,350m respectively.[citation needed]. In addition, the government has also decided to invest on a second runway at the Colombo airport, enabling even the large A380’s to land in Colombo. Financial assistance for this perpose is expected from Japan.
- Runway Overlay by 2013
- A second runway begin construction in 2013
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/04/24/bus01.asp
Terminals [edit]
Terminal 1: Terminal 1 opened in 1967 and is the oldest, but biggest terminal in the airport. It has 12 gates. It has arrival and departure separated horizontally. All international flights currently use this terminal, until Terminal 2 opens.
Terminal 2: Terminal 2 is planned to open in December 2015. It would be the newest and most modern terminal at the airport. It is planned to have 8 gates, with arrival and departure separated vertically.
Terminal 3: Terminal 3 opened in November 2012 and handles all domestic flights. It has arrival and departure separated horizontally.[citation needed]
Cargo Terminal: The Cargo Terminal opened in October 2009 and handles all cargo flights. It has arrival and departure separated horizontally and is the first terminal that you see when you get onto airport road.
Airlines and destinations [edit]
Passenger flights [edit]
_Wallner.jpg)
Note 1: ^ Although some of these flights make an intermediate stop en route to their listed destination, they do not have rights to carry traffic solely between Colombo and the intermediate city.
Cargo flights [edit]
| Airlines | Destinations | Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | Chennai, Hong Kong | Cargo |
| SriLankan Cargo operated by ExpoAir Cargo | Dubai, Karachi, Lahore, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvanathapuram | Cargo |
| SriLankan Cargo operated by Lankan Cargo | Bangalore, Chennai, Thiruvanathapuram | Cargo |
| MASkargo | Chennai, Kuala Lumpur | Cargo |
| Midex Airlines | Al Ain | Cargo |
| Qatar Airways Cargo | Doha, Karachi, Thiruvananthapuram | Cargo |
Ground transport [edit]
Travel between the airport and Colombo city center is available as follows:
Car [edit]
- Colombo - Katunayake Expressway is a new high-speed road linking the airport to Colombo, with a travel time of around 13 minutes. will be open in July 2013.
Rail [edit]
- Airport Express Rail - Colombo Secretariat to Bandaranaike International Airport using a Hitachi Class S5 DMU.
Sea [edit]
- Sea plane in Seeduwa Dadugam Oya near Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and using DHC-6-100 for traveling inside the country in Sri Lanka.
SLAF Katunayake [edit]
In 1956 with the departure of the RAF from RAF Negombo, the Royal Ceylon Air Force took over and renamed the station RCyAF Katunayake. With the construction of the Bandaranaike International Airport, 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. At present it is the largest SLAF station in the country and is the airfield for several flying squadrons as well as ground units. The SL Air Force Hospital is also based at SLAF Katunayake.
In March 2001, on the 50th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the airfield was presented with the President’s Colours.
Lodger squadrons [edit]
Incidents at Bandaranaike International Airport [edit]
1970s [edit]
- On 4 December 1974, Martinair Flight 138, a Douglas DC-8 flew into the side of a mountain while on landing approach to Bandaranaike. The pilots had mistakenly assumed that a power station near a mountainous area, as an airport. All 191 passengers and crew on board were killed.[5]
- On 15 November 1978, Icelandic Airlines Flight LL 001, a Douglas DC-8 on a charter flight, crashed into a coconut plantation while on approach to Katunayake, Sri Lanka for a refueling stop. 184 out of 264 people on board were killed.
1980s [edit]
- 3 May 1986 - Air Lanka Flight 512. In an operation carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers), a bomb in an Air Lanka (now SriLankan Airlines) Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 100 exploded while passengers where boarding for a short-hop flight to Malé, in the Maldives. 14 passengers were killed, and the aeroplane was written off.[6]
2000s [edit]
- 24 March 2000 - An Antonov 12BK operated by cargo carrier Sky Cabs crashed due to lack of fuel. It crashed into two houses killing four people on the ground and six of the eight crew on board.[6]
- 4 February 2000- An Ilyushin 18D cargo plane operated by Phoenix Aviation and charted to Sri Lankan cargo company Expo Aviation was landing in Colombo on a flight from Dubai. However, the copilot set the altimeter incorrectly and the landing gear contacted the surface of the sea, 10.7 km (6.6 mi) short of the runway. A belly landing was performed 50 m (160 ft) to the right of the runway.[6]
- 24 July 2001 - Bandaranaike Airport attack. 14 members of the LTTE Black Tiger suicide squad infiltrated Katunayake air base, destroying eight military aircraft on the tarmac. They then moved to the civilian airport, destroying two Airbus aircraft and damaging three others. Seven government personnel were killed.[6]
- 8 September 2005 - While a Saudia Boeing 747 taxied for takeoff on an international flight from Colombo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, air traffic controllers received an anonymous telephone call concerning a possible bomb on the aircraft. The crew was informed about this call and elected to perform an emergency evacuation. As a result of the evacuation, there were 62 injuries among the 420 passengers and 22 crew members. One of the passengers died as a result of injuries received during the evacuation, and 17 passengers were hospitalized. No explosive devices were found after a search of the aircraft.[7]
- 25 March 2007 - At 00:45 the Tamil Tigers bombed the Sri Lanka Air Force base adjoining the international airport. Three Air Force personnel were killed and 16 injured when light aircraft dropped two bombs, although no aircraft were damaged. Passengers already on aircraft were disembarked and led to a shelter, while others trying to reach the airport were turned away and approach roads closed. The airport was temporarily shut down following the incident, but normal flights resumed at 03:30.[8]
- On 6 January 2008, Mihin Lanka flight MJ401 from Colombo to Dubai was forced to issue a Mayday call and perform an emergency landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai after one engine developed a severe oil leak and stopped working. Passengers were informed that the incident was due to the plane leaving Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo without a vital component in one engine. There were no casualties.[9]
2010s [edit]
- On 9 April 2012, Mihin Lanka flight MJ603 from Colombo to Jakarta, called an emergency landing back to Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake after about 1 hour from take off, due to a suspected fire in the cargo hold. According to the engineers a fire had not erupted within the plane but was a technical fault. No casualties reported.[10]
See also [edit]
- Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Hambantota
- Ratmalana Airport, Colombo's other airport
- List of airports in Sri Lanka
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka". airport-Technology. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Sirimane, Shirajiv (2010-02-14). "Airbus A380 to touch down at BIA". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ Sandaruwan, Miyuru. "Airbus A380 Touches Down in Sri Lanka for the first time". Airline Industry Review. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ Ministry of Ports and Aviation Medium Term .Infrastructure Development Programme[dead link] Microsoft PowerPoint 10.5 MB 13 January 2008
- ^ "Aviation-Safety PH-MBH accident description page". Aviation-safety.net. 1974-12-04. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ a b c d Accident history for CMB at Aviation Safety Network
- ^ http://www.caa.lk/pdf/accident_reports/HZ-AIP_08_Sept.%202005.pdf
- ^ "Situation at Katunayake brought totally under control [5th Lead]". Defence.lk. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ Leon Berenger (2008-01-13). "Mihin Lanka’s near disaster in the air". Sunday Times Online. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ^ "UPDATE: Mihin Lanka flight makes emergency landing over suspected fire". Adaderana.lk. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
External links [edit]
- Airport Authority homepage
- Sri Lanka Airports Flight Information and Aviation Forum
- Airport Technical data
- Tourist Information Kiosks at Airport
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
