Sri Lanka Aviation Hits Post-Crisis High in 2025 📈

The aviation sector recorded its strongest performance in years, signaling a robust recovery in tourism and regional connectivity as airport traffic surpassed pre-crisis momentum. • Overall Traffic & Connectivity The country’s airports handled 10.2 Mn passengers in 2025. Operations were supported by 46 airlines linking Sri Lanka to 72 destinations across 34 countries. Total aircraft movements reached 64,340, while cargo throughput stood at 190,280 tons. • Tourism & Transit Tourism remained the primary growth driver with 2.34 Mn arrivals by air. Notably, transit passenger movements rose sharply to 946,811, re-establishing the island as a regional aviation hub. • Regional Airport Performance Mattala (MRIA): Achieved a record turnaround with 140,614 passengers—its highest since 2013. New carriers from Russia, Uzbekistan, and the Middle East helped bypass previous underutilization. Jaffna (JIA): Posted its best year since 2019 with 53,443 international passengers. The hub saw its first medical evacuations and launched a terminal expansion project to boost Northern Province economic integration. • Strategic Outlook The recovery reflects stabilizing macroeconomic conditions and renewed airline confidence. Authorities are now focusing on infrastructure expansion to manage the 2026 demand surge and ease congestion at Bandaranaike International Airport. _Source: AASL Provisional Data 2025_