Sri Lanka’s aviation sector has recorded steady growth this year, with international passenger movements increasing by 14.08% and aircraft movements rising by 15.35% between January and September 2025, according to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL).
The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), and Jaffna International Airport (JIA) collectively handled 7,559,699 passengers during this period, with arrivals and departures almost evenly split — 49.15% arrivals and 50.85% departures.
Transit traffic also remained robust, with 680,821 passengers passing through Sri Lankan airports, underscoring the country’s growing importance as a regional and long-haul transit hub.
Of the total arrivals, 1,706,308 were tourists, representing 45.92% of all inbound passengers, while local arrivals accounted for 54.08%, reflecting a balanced mix of domestic travel and international tourism.
The AASL noted that the figures highlight the industry’s strong post-pandemic recovery, with the final quarter of 2025 expected to see further growth in passenger volumes and flight operations, driven by new airline schedules and expanded route networks.
