| Hambantota International Airport හම්බන්තොට ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන් තොටුපල ஹம்பாந்தோட்டை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் |
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| IATA: none – ICAO: none | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Civilian | ||
| Owner | Sri Lankan Government | ||
| Operator | Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd | ||
| Serves | Hambantota | ||
| Location | Mattala, Hambantota, Sri Lanka | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 4,000 | Asphalt | ||
The Mattala International Airport is an international airport currently under construction in Mattala, in the Hambantota District in the south of Sri Lanka. Upon completion, the Mattala International Airport will be Sri Lanka's second international airport, joining the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Initially the plan was to build an international airport serving the south of Sri Lanka at Weerawila, but these plans were scrapped due to environmental concerns. The site was then moved to Mattala, a small town located 15 kilometers north of Hambantota. Construction on the $209 million[1] first phase of the airport began in November 2009, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
The new international airport is expected to expand the local aviation industry whilst being a catalyst for the country’s economic development enabling international trade, tourism, vocational training and employment. It is also being implemented as an eco friendly project. The airport is estimated to cost US $210 million and by the end of construction will cover 2,000 Hectares in total.[2] The new airport is being built to be compatible with the latest Airbus A380 aircraft and has been designed according to recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The airport is designed to facilitate for over 800 foreign passengers at peak hours and several local passengers per every 1000 km² in side the buildings.[2] It will be made to support air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the nearby Hambantota Port, which is about 15 miles away, and would act as an alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport from the date of its completion in 2011. The Chinese government is providing financial assistance for the project.[3][4] The airport is being constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company.[5] Upon completion, the airport will be operated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd.
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In ancient times, Ussangoda in Ambalantota, was the legendary landing place of Ravana, the great king of Sri Lanka who piloted a special peacock chariot across the skies. The second international airport site is located in the Hambantota district and the distance between the main city center where the Hambantota sea port is situated and the airport site is 20 km. The total land area reserved for the airport is 2000Ha and the construction is planned under two stages. Stage I is scheduled to be completed by end 2012 on 800Ha with the fully operational airport consisting of aerodrome facilities, runway, apron, taxiway, passenger & cargo terminals. Stage I development will cater for 1 million passengers, 45,000Mt of cargo per annum and 10 parking stands for a mix of aircraft range of narrow to wide body. All associated infrastructure and utilities are being developed to facilitate the airport operations. Stage II is planned to enhance the capacity to 5 million passengers, 100,000Mt of cargo per annum and 16 parking stands. Under the Greater Hambantota Development Program, the area has been developed with road network, international cricket stadium, International convention center and administrative complex which are located within close proximity of the airport
This project will have two phases, with the first phase expected to be completing in December 2011 with the first flight scheduled to land in January 2012.airline operators expressed their keen interest to commence operations in Mattala once it is commissioned in March 2012
Phase One began on 27 November 2009 at Mattala. The initial construction will cover an area of 800 hectares. The airport will have one runway and a taxiway that will be expanded in the second stage to allow larger planes to land. Environmental approval has been granted for the project. It will be constructed under an environmentally friendly green concept with the construction of several lakes and green landscapes included in the project. The project is designed and will be implemented by Sri Lankan engineers.[3]
A full length parallel Taxi way, a flying school, an airport hotel and recreational facilities.
A new aerodrome designed to meet the ICAO specification for code 4F is to be built. Annual Service Volume of the aerodrome at short and medium/long term planning horizons will be 30,000 and 60,000 movements respectively.
Runway Length: 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) in length with a width of 75 metres.
60 metre long taxiway from the runway centre line to the edge of the apron.
Apron: 10 parking positions initially with the total being 80.
Terminals and other buildings will occupy a proposed 10,000 square metres to accommodate 800 peak hours and 100 domestic passengers both ways.
Hambantota International Airport will include domestic/regional and international passenger and cargo terminals, warehouses, as well as being compatible for seaplane/amphibious operations etc. It will have facilities for pilot training, technician training, aircraft maintenance and charter/private jet parking.and nuts
The creation of Hambantota International Airport has the following objectives:[6]
This project is expected to stimulate the development and infrastructure in the area, raising living standards of the people not only in Hambantota, but in nearby Matara, Moneragala and other close districts.[7] It will also benefit other parts of the country. It will also have a positive impact on tourism in the Southern Province. Unlike the previous Weerawila International Airport project this one will not affect agriculture in the area according to a government report. However it is not yet clear whether Yala National Park, Kalametiya and Bundala National Park would be affected in the long run even though it has been environmentally approved.[3]
The proposed extension of the rail link from Matara to Kataragama and the completion of the Colombo-Matara Highway in next two years time would boost travel to the Southern Province. The new airport would serve as a cargo hub to the Eastern Province along with the Port of Hambantota which will be opened around the same time.[3] It will also serve the Hambantota International Cricket Stadium which will host two fixtures at the upcoming 2011 World Cup.
The project has received some criticism as the new airport will be built in current President Mahinda Rajapaksa's hometown, reportedly as a political decision. The Hambantota area is one of the poorest in the island nation and as such cannot be expected to help the airport generate considerable passenger traffic. Many industry professionals have criticised the project instead calling for the government to further improve the already crowded Bandaranaike International Airport, which is situateed in a district that has not traditionally given a considerable political support to the current President.[8]
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