Mattala airport offers special concessions to lure in international airlines

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

According to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, the package is conceptualised to attract international airlines to MRIA and a Cabinet paper will be submitted to firm up the offering.

In a statement yesterday, Ranatunga shared that under the concessionary 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 conceptualised to offer concessions on landing and parking of flights as well.

The statement added that discounts on landing and parking fees will be extended for four years from the date operations kick-off.

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 will be waived off.

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