Colombo Airport Guide

Bandaranaike International Airport is administered by the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd., and serves the capital city of Sir Lanka, Colombo. The country’s only international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Katunayake around 35 km to the north of Colombo. The Colombo airport hosts more than 15 passenger and cargo airlines, and is a hub for SriLankan Airlines and Colombo’s budget airline Mihin Lanka. The Bandaranaike International Airport handles more than 4 million passengers each year.

Address: Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka. Tel: 94 11 2252861 Fax: 94 11 225 9435

Website: www.airport.lk is the official website of the Bandaranaike International Airport, and is a very helpful guide for tourists who wish to get a first peek of the Colombo tourism. The website provides information on flight schedules, and guides travellers about airport facilities and services.

Time Zone: +5:30 hours from UTC/GMT

Terminal Information: Bandaranaike International Airport has a passenger terminal that incorporates arrival and departure areas. The airports’ terminal features check-in desks, short-term parking spaces, airport hotels, eating joints, bars, lounge and duty-free shopping arcade.

Airport Connectivity: Sri Lanka airport is connected with an extremely efficient transport network that enables travellers to move to and from the airport conveniently. Passengers arriving from Colombo-bound flights have different options of transportation at their disposal like shuttle, bus, train and taxi services.

Taxi: The airport’s taxi service is managed by the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. that maintains a counter in the arrival lobby and has a fleet of more than 600 vehicles.

Train: The airport’s express train operates between the Airport Station and the Colombo Secretariat Station. The airport also runs a shuttle bus every few minutes from the terminal to the Airport Station.

Car Parking: Bandaranaike International Airport features two open air parking areas - the Terminal Car Park and the Remote Car Park. Terminal Car Park can accommodate up to 400 vehicles while the Remote Car Park is cheaper and bigger car park that is located nearly 300m from the airport terminal.

Lounges: Colombo airport has a number of plush lounges that cater to different kinds of travellers. All of the lounges offer a fine set of amenities and services for the passengers.

Silk Route is a premium class lounge that serves Commercially Important Passengers (CIPs). The guests at the wonderful lounge have access to a range of facilities and services. Silk Route offers its guests an exclusive and sped up immigration and customs processes.

Other lounges at the Bandaranaike International Airport include Araliya Lounge, Executive Lounge and Lotus Lounge. More information on the lounges can be gathered from the airport’s website.

Food and Beverages: Restaurants managed and operated by Sri Lankan Airlines serve a variety of scrumptious international and local dishes, and are located in the Departure Lobby and Transit Lounge. The airport also features a café as well as a bar that offers wine and beer to the passengers. Additionally, there are snack bars in the transit area that serve light meals and beverages for those who have just descended from flights to Colombo or those who wish to catch flights out of the city.

Medical Care: The airport has a medical centre that provides an array of health and medical services to the travellers. The centre is equipped to carry out first-aid and handle emergency health satiations. Featuring a medical officer round the clock, the airport’s medical centre operates well-equipped ambulances for transporting patients to hospitals.

Shopping: Shopping plays a big part in the Colombo tourism and the international airport is the first and foremost testament of that. The airport’s duty-free shopping zone sells a variety of electronics, household appliances, and international brands of wines, whiskeys, perfumes, chocolates. The much admired Ceylon Tea and Sri Lankan handicrafts can also be found in the departure terminal by those on Colombo tour. Some of the brands available at the airport are Hunter Duty Free, Jade Electronic, Metro International, Morich Trading and Singer.

Money, Banking, Postal and Telecommunications: Banks, money exchange facilities and automated teller machines are available at the airport to assist travellers with financial services on Colombo tour. The international airport also features a post office at its arrival porch along with post boxes. Telephones can be found in the arrival, departure and transit areas while communication counters with international direct dialling, e-mail and fax facilities are also available. Company outlets offering mobile phone connections can be found in the arrival lobby.

Lost and Found: Inquiries regarding the lost baggage should be directed towards the information desk or to the airline office.

Facilities for Passengers with Special Needs: With wheelchairs, disabled toilets and lifts, the Bandaranaike International Airport is quite accessible for individuals with special needs.

Child Care: Rooms with different facilities for feeding are available in the transit area of the Colombo airport.

(Note: This airport guide is based on information gathered from official airport website on the internet. Southall Travel holds no responsibility for any misrepresentation of facts and will not be in any way liable for any kind of eventuality arising from the use of information given in this guide).