Colombo International Airport will return to normal operations ahead of schedule at the end of this month, following upgrades to its 3,350-metre main runway 04/22. Since January 6, the Sri Lankan capital gateway has been closed to all traffic between 08h30L and 16h30L daily to allow for resurfacing work.

While most airlines won't be able to adjust their schedules for the earlier-than-expected reopening, the Sri Lankan government has said in an announcement that it hopes that SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) may be able to resume daytime flights to Indian destinations.

The state-owned airline had previously estimated the partial closure would cost it USD50 million in lost revenue on the back of a 17% drop in weekly seating capacity.

Official statistics indicate that in 2016, there were twenty-five international airlines operating scheduled flights into and out of the airport, with a daily average of 170 aircraft movements, 25,000 passengers, and 300 metric tonnes of cargo.