The Jaffna airport will have all basic facilities conforming to international standards and certified to that effect by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, said Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources told the Business Observer last week.
He said initially the airport will be operational during day time and with the installation of an airfield lighting system, the airport would be operational throughout the day.
“All border control formalities will be carried out as usual and all basic facilities including Duty Free facilities will be available,” sources said
A few airlines in India have 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.
The decision to develop the Jaffna Airport to operate regional commercial flights was taken on August 6. The Cabinet memorandum in this regard was submitted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to develop the airport to operate commercial flights to promote tourism.
The Road Development Authority has been assigned the construction of civil works. Thet Airports and Aviation Services Ltd will be the service provider.
Under the first phase of the Master Plan of the airport development project 80 -seater aircraft will be accommodated using the refurbished portion of current runway (950 m) for regional Operations and under phase two 150 seater aircraft (A320) will be accommodated. The strengthening of the runway (2,300m) will comprise all required infrastructure for international Operations. Phase three will enable the airport to accommodate 200- seater aircraft with a 3200m length runway.
The development of the airport is to facilitate the operation of A320, Boeing 737, A318 and A319 aircraft.
The operation of the first commercial flight to South Indian destinations is scheduled to commence mid this month according to official sources.
The Palaly airport which had been operating as a military airbase was named Jaffna International Airport this year. The airport will be upgraded at a cost of Rs. 2.25 billion. - LF