Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is set for a major redesign of its Arrival Lobby to improve passenger convenience and accommodate the growing number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
Key Enhancements
The redesign will introduce several significant upgrades, including:
- Increased and relocated ATM machines to minimize congestion and reduce wait times.
- Expansion of the Arrival Lobby to create a more spacious and welcoming environment.
- A centralized travel information counter to assist arriving tourists efficiently.
Purpose and Implementation
The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) has initiated these improvements in response to the steady rise in tourist arrivals. AASL Chairman, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Harsha Abeywickrema, emphasized the necessity of these upgrades.
“We have witnessed a significant increase in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, particularly in the last quarter of 2024, with this trend continuing into 2025. In January 2025, daily tourist arrivals averaged approximately 8,150, marking a 23% rise from the 6,700 daily arrivals recorded in January 2024. However, the existing Arrival Lobby layout has resulted in congestion, partly due to a lack of sufficient ATM machines and limited space. Following a visit by Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, to BIA, we decided to expand and redesign the Arrival Lobby to better accommodate the increasing passenger volume. This redesign will include additional ATM machines to ease waiting times and the relocation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Travel Information Counter to a central position, ensuring a warm welcome and efficient assistance for tourists upon arrival.”
Future Plans
These enhancements align with AASL’s ongoing commitment to improving passenger experience and managing increasing traveler volumes at BIA. While these upgrades serve as an interim solution, the long-term plan includes the completion of Terminal 2 by March 2028, which will further enhance the airport’s capacity and facilities.
