Chartwell Aviation Initiates Consortium Formation for Sri Lankan Airport Development Contract

12 May 2026

Chartwell Aviation Ltd has commenced formal engagement with established international aviation operators to form a consortium for the development and management of a major Sri Lankan airport under a 30-year concession.

The opportunity, issued by the Airport and Aviation Services of Sri Lanka (AASL) under reference 045/T/2026, covers both airside management and landside development at a Code 4F international airport with a 3,500-metre runway, currently operating significantly below capacity.

Chartwell Aviation is engaging ground handling operators with proven experience managing airports handling over one million passengers annually. The consortium structure positions Chartwell as the local operating partner, providing regulatory navigation, government liaison, and integrated business planning, while international partners contribute operational credentials and technical expertise.

"The Gulf airspace crisis has fundamentally altered routing economics for Europe–Asia-Pacific traffic," said Pavithre Wijevitharana, Director of Chartwell Aviation. "This airport sits directly on the alternative southern corridor. The 30-year contract term gives operators the certainty to invest in infrastructure that will serve this corridor for decades."

The AASL has scheduled a Pre-Proposal Briefing for 22 May 2026, with final submissions due in June. Chartwell Aviation expects to confirm consortium composition ahead of the submission deadline.

The company is pursuing both the airside management segment and the landside Build-Operate-Transfer segment, with an integrated proposal covering ground handling, cargo logistics, transit services, and scheduled air connectivity.