Mattala Airport offers concessions package to attract more airlines to make scheduled flights

In a bid to generate more traffic at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Mattala, the Tourism Ministry has announced a special concessionary package for international airlines registering to operate scheduled flights.

According to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, the package is designed to attract international airlines to MRIA and a Cabinet paper would be submitted to confirm the offering.

In a statement issued recently, Minister Ranatunga said that under the concessions package, international airlines would be able to reap several benefits such as being exempt from paying the airport emigration charge of US $ 60 for a period of two years, starting from the operation commencing date.

Plans are also being made to offer concessions on landing and parking of flights as well.

The statement added that discounts on landing and parking fees would be extended for four years from the date operations kickoff.

Landing and parking fees removed entirely in the first year and in the second, third and fourth year of operation, 75 percent, 50 percent and 25 percent of the total charges would be waived off.

Furthermore, airlines entering into an agreement to operate a minimum of one scheduled flight per week to the Airport would be offered a 50 percent discount on the landing and parking fee at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, for the first year, the statement said.