Consortium Formation Initiated for Sri Lankan Airport Development

May 2026

Chartwell Aviation Limited has commenced engagement with established international aviation operators to structure a development consortium for 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 operations 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 at airports handling over one million passengers annually. The structure positions Chartwell as the investment and programme delivery lead, with international partners contributing operational credentials, technical expertise, and established aviation systems.

"The Gulf airspace disruption 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 concession term gives operators the certainty to invest in infrastructure that will serve this corridor for decades."

The AASL scheduled a Pre-Proposal Briefing for May 2026, with final submissions due in July. Chartwell Aviation confirmed consortium composition ahead of the submission deadline.